Four NE10 Teams Qualify for NCAA East Regional.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – During the NCAA Selection Show on Monday night, it was revealed that four volleyball teams from the Northeast-10 Conference earned East Regional bids to continue their postseason ambitions – with top-seed Molloy of the East Coast Conference serving as host when matches take place from Thursday, Dec. 5 to Saturday, Dec. 7.
Bentley, the NE10 champion, earned the league's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament, and enters the East Regional as the No. 2 seed. Saint Anselm, New Haven and Adelphi qualified as at-large bids, helping the NE10 make-up half of the overall participation in the region.
The Falcons had a remarkable season, posting an overall record of 26-5 and 12-1 in league play. They capped-off the NE10 season with a league title – their first since 2006 – after mounting a comeback to win a five-set thriller over American International this past Saturday night in Waltham, Mass.
Saint Anselm – the region's No. 4 seed – came within one set of knocking-off Bentley in the NE10 semifinals. The Hawks are 20-11 overall and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight season. They will play No. 5 New Haven in a rematch of the NE10 quarterfinals.
New Haven is 16-10 overall and will play Saint Anselm in the first round, a team it has grown quite familiar with over the past two seasons.
In 2018, New Haven and Saint Anselm played each other in both the NE10 and NCAA Tournaments, splitting the outcomes – while carrying over that rivalry to 2019 where they played in the league quarterfinals and now are scheduled to play once again in the East Regional. The Hawks are 3-2 in the last five meetings with the Chargers.
Adelphi grabbed the No. 8 spot in the East Regional and will have the opportunity to upset top-seeded Molloy on its home floor next week. The Panthers were 14-10 overall this season, earning important wins over Bridgeport and Georgian Court – two other teams that qualified for the East Regional – earlier this season to propel them to a bid.
NE10 volleyball teams look to win the East Region for the fourth-straight season, as American International (2016, 2018) and New Haven (2017) have won the regional in recent years. In the past seven years, the NE10 has accounted for five East Region volleyball titles.
Happy Holidays to @AUPanthers.
— Adelphi Volleyball (@AdelphiVB) November 26, 2019
We're dancing for the second straight season and 12th time since 2007. Check out our reaction as we learned our fate and picked up the final spot in the East Region - tournament will be hosted by top-seed Molloy starting Dec. 5!#HailAdelphi �� pic.twitter.com/OjBk2BdqU1
Hearing your name called as a participant in the NCAA DII Championship is always special. The next chapter starts December 5 at Molloy. #GoBent #BentleyU #NE10Embrace pic.twitter.com/5sOIhQyRdF
— Bentley Volleyball (@BentleyVball) November 26, 2019
WE'RE IN!! Let's just say the @STAHawksVB squad was excited to hear that they punched their third-straight ticket to the @NCAADII Women's Volleyball Championship! #HawksSoarHigher @SaintAnselm pic.twitter.com/rWOLd7u1DY
— Saint Anselm Hawks (@STAHawks) November 26, 2019
The @ChargersVball team is �� again!!! Chargers earn fifth seed in East Region and will play Saint Anselm in the opening round Thursday, December 5 at Molloy's Quelay Gymnasium. #GetChargedUp ��⚡️
— New Haven Chargers (@UNHChargers) November 26, 2019
�� - https://t.co/Grw7gCQlSS pic.twitter.com/fjHTrRSe4P
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.