Cortland Volleyball to Face Carnegie Mellon in NCAA First Round Thursday at Johns Hopkins
Cortland Athletic Communications
The Cortland women's volleyball team will be making its fourth straight NCAA Division III tournament appearance and 28th overall as part of an eight-team regional hosted by Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md. The Red Dragons (26-5) will open against Carnegie Mellon (19-11) in the first round on Thursday, Nov. 21.
The Cortland/Carnegie Mellon winner will face either Johns Hopkins (29-2) or Bridgewater St. (13-9) in the second round on Friday, Nov. 22. Thursday's other first-round matchups feature Smith (30-6) versus Endicott (22-7) and Ithaca (22-6) versus Lasell (30-5).
The regional final is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13, and the regional champion will advance to the "elite eight" in Salem, Va., Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 4-7. Cortland has advanced to the national quarterfinals nine times, most recently in 2011. The Red Dragons defeated Gettysburg in straight sets in the first round of last year's tournament, before falling 3-0 to M.I.T. in the second round.
Under sixth-year head coach Erin Glickert, the Red Dragons won their 23rd State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title this past weekend to earn an NCAA automatic bid. The top-seeded Red Dragons beat New Paltz in straight sets in the semifinal round and also swept Buffalo State in the finals to win their fourth straight conference crown.
Outside hitter Anna Pilkey (Ballston Spa) leads the Red Dragons with 272 kills (3.0 per set) and 44 aces, and has also contributed 220 digs. Outside hitter Jennifer Koestner (Syosset) has 256 kills (3.0 per set) and 158 digs, while middle blocker Alexa Guedez (Mamaroneck/Rye Neck) has 203 kills on a .330 attack percentage and a team-high 99 blocks.
Middle blocker Emma Reilly (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) has contributed 88 blocks, and a .380 attack percentage. Libero Mikenzie Martens (Carthage) has 493 digs and averages 5.0 digs per set, while adding 39 aces. Setter Ryan Hinshaw (Aurora, IL/Joliet Catholic Academy) leads the team with 7.2 assists per set.
Carnegie Mellon is making its third straight trip to the national tournament after earning a "Pool C" berth. The Tartans defeated N.Y.U. in the fifth-place match of the UAA Championship, 3-1 on Saturday.
