CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It's been quite the volleyball season in the PSUAC, with upsets abound during the regular season. While there may not have been complete chaos, certainly havoc was abound during divisional play. All of those games have brought us to this point--the 2024 PSUAC Volleyball Championship tournament, set to begin tonight with three quarterfinal match-up and close out next Tuesday, October 29th with the championship match at Rec Hall on the University Park campus.

With just seven games left, the PSUAC proudly presents its preview of the Volleyball Championship tournament as we seek to crown a champion who will represent the conference in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Volleyball National Championship in November. Let's meet which teams are left!

East Division

#4 Penn State Schuylkill at #1 Penn State Hazleton

#3 Penn State York at #2 Penn State Mont Alto

While Penn State Hazleton was firmly considered a playoff team in the preseason coaches poll, they were not expected to be the top seed in the East. The conference divisions were reconfigured prior to the 2024 season, with two-time defending champions Penn State Mont Alto joining the East Division and bringing with them their recent dominance in the PSUAC. Hazleton had other plans, splitting the season series with Mont Alto and sweeping Penn State York, the runner-up in each of the last two PSUAC Championship tournaments. Hazleton finished 9-1 in PSUAC play, a game better than Mont Alto, to secure the top seed in the East. That has earned them the right to host number four seed Penn State Schuylkill in the quarterfinals on Thursday night, a team they swept in the season series without losing a set. Schuylkill went 4-6 in PSUAC play, with all six conference losses coming against the three teams in the East field.

That same preseason coaches poll heavily favored a rematch of Mont Alto and York in the PSUAC Championship, but Hazleton's rise has forced that game to be played in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night. Only one of those preseason favorites will be able to advance to next week's semifinals in Rec Hall, and it's anyone's guess as to who it might be. The teams split the season series, with each winning on the opposing team's home court. York took the first meeting in mid-September in five sets, with Mont Alto exacting revenge in early October in four sets. Mont Alto grabbed home court advantage for the quarterfinals, finishing at 8-2 in the conference, a game better than York's 7-3 finish.

West Division

#4 Penn State New Kensington at #1 Penn State Fayette

#3 Penn State Greater Allegheny at #2 Penn State Shenango

Out west, Penn State Fayette reasserted its longtime dominance in volleyball, capturing the number one seed with a 9-1 conference record. Fayette's only blemish was a five set loss at Penn State Shenango in late September. Since that loss, Fayette has dropped only two sets in PSUAC play. Fayette will host the fourth seed Penn State New Kensington in the quarterfinals, a team they swept during the regular season. Fayette looks to get back to the PSUAC Championship winner's circle for the first time since 2019, a year they won their 12th PSUAC title in 15 years and also captured the USCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship. New Kensington did pick up some upset wins this year as well, knocking off both Shenango and Greater Allegheny over the last 10 days of the regular season as they finished the slate with three straight conference wins. 

The middle seeds in the West include a recent contender and a complete surprise team. Penn State Greater Allegheny begins their push to re-establish its success from a few years ago, but standing in their way is the West's two seed, Penn State Shenango. After missing the playoffs each of the last three seasons, including a 1-11 mark in PSUAC play just last year, Shenango shocked just about everyone and played to a 7-3 conference mark this season, including their huge upset win over Fayette. That win, along with a season split with Greater Allegheny, earned them a home game in the quarterfinals. But the winner might just be who flinches first, as both matches in the regular season went the distance and were two and three point victories in the deciding set. Short story--it's anyone's match!

Players to Watch

There is no shortage of players to watch in the PSUAC Volleyball postseason. Mont Alto's Gracie Vaughn and Hazleton's Sydney Mack headline the show as two of the conference's premier hitters. But it might just be the defense that steps up and saves the day for one of these teams. Greater Allegheny's Hannah Kessler was named Specialist of the Week multiple times this season from her position in the back row as a defensive specialist. Fayette's Tyannah Eddings leads her team's defensive set-up, averaging more than six digs per set during the season.

New Kensington has a pair of Kaylas in their specialist roles, with Kayla Carnahan leading the PSUAC in digs and Kayla Unger finishing third in assists per set. They'll look to set-up their own offense to counter that of Fayette's Amiah DeShields, a top newcomer to the conference who finished in the top five in kills per set. Shenango has a host of first year standouts, led by Cyra Cross and her 205 kills on the season. Cross is set by Carla Ramirez Ortiz, another standout newcomer for Shenango's upstart squad. They'll need to find a rhythm as they attack Greater Allegheny, who is led by Lillian Barker who has settled into her own late in the season to finish as a top 10 hitter in the PSUAC.

Hazleton's Sophia Del Vacchio may be the most important player on the court for Hazleton to advance deep into the postseason. While Mack is Hazleton's go-to, opposing defenses will focus on stopping her, forcing Del Vacchio to determine when it's best to set other teammates like Kaytlin Kelley and Sarah Ballek. Standing in their way is Schuylkill's Maddy Robinson, who excelled with 2.51 kills per set. Teammate Ryliegh Sinko, a first year standout finished 8th in assists and 13th in digs per set during conference play.

Mont Alto's Vaughn has dominated the middle for the defending champs for multiple years now, but her teammate Leslie Huckle has stepped up as their next option, averaging 2.45 kills per set. Mont Alto lost their top two specialists after last year, the Denlinger sisters, who have been replaced by Ashlyn Vandenbree (libero/defensive specialist) and Katie Sinks (setter), along with Zoey McCormack (setter/defensive specialist). Their production may be the determining factor in Mont Alto's success.

Perhaps the deepest team on attack is the one we haven't yet talked about--York. York doesn't have anyone in the top 14 in kills per set, but boasts four of the next 13 in the PSUAC. Whitney Smith, Olivia Giltner, Sadie Schantz and Bry Neiberg each register nearly two kills per set, the most balanced attack of any team left standing. That depth will be crucial as York looks to return to Rec Hall for the fourth straight season.

Other Important Details

The PSUAC Volleyball Championship sees its top two seeds in each division host a quarterfinal match. After those winners are determined, the semifinals head to central Pennsylvania. Rec Hall will host the PSUAC Volleyball semifinals and championship match once again, starting on Monday, October 28th. The semifinals are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the winners advancing to the championship match on Tuesday, October 29th at 6 p.m.

Teams stay within their divisions during the quarterfinals, with the crossover coming during the semifinal round. There, the top remaining seed from each division will play the lowest remaining seed from the opposing division (essentially re-seeding based upon quarterfinal results/upsets). All matches are best-of-5, with the champion being awarded the traveling trophy and their Nittany Lion statue.

The champion also receives the PSUAC's automatic bid into the 2024 USCAA Volleyball Division II National Championship tournament, scheduled for November 7-9 at Penn State Fayette's Community Center.

Additional championship information for fans traveling the State College will be made available on Friday.