No. 3-seeded Skyhawks match program-best seeding for NCAA East Regional
NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament Bracket Announced
NCAA II Volleyball Tournament Bracket
EASTON, Mass. (November 22, 2021) – The Stonehill College volleyball program has received its third bid to the NCAA Division II Championships and match a program-best by receiving the No. 3 seed for the East Regional, which will be hosted by American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, December 2-4 at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium.
Stonehill (21-9, 10-3 NE10) matches its program-best NCAA Tournament seeding with the No. 3-seed after also earning that same seed its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014, while earning a No. 5 seed in its first NCAA Tournament trip in 2011. The Skyhawks will be seeking their first NCAA Tournament win in its first round matchup with No. 6 Jefferson University (26-4, 14-4 NE10) on Thursday, December 2. Match times are expected to be announced on Tuesday.
Martin, the NE10 Coach of the Year, has led the Skyhawks to their third NCAA Tournament bid (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
Top-seeded American International College (27-6, 11-2 NE10), the Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament champions, No. 2-seeded Daemen College (22-7, 12-0 ECC), the East Coast Conference regular season and tournament champions, and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) tournament champions Jefferson all earned automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament. Fellow NE10 members No. 4 University of New Haven (22-9, 10-3 NE10), No. 7 Bentley University (15-12, 9-4 NE10) and No. 8 Southern Connecticut State University (23-10, 9-4 NE10), along with Holy Family University (22-4, 18-0 CACC) of the CACC joined Stonehill in earning at large bids to the field of 64.
The remainder of the East Regional first round games on Thursday will feature No. 2 Daemen against No. 7 Bentley, No. 5 Holy Family against No. 4 New Haven, as well as No. 8 Southern Conn. State against host American International. Following Thursday's first round matchups, the regional semifinals will be played on Friday, with the regional championship slated for Saturday, December 4. The winner of the East Regional will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, hosted by the University of Tampa, at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center in Tampa, Florida, December 9-11.
Stonehill, under the direction of NE10 Coach of the Year Craig Martin, in his third year, has won 20 matches for just the eighth time in program history and its first since also winning 21 in 2014. The Skyhawks are 21-5 since opening with four losses at a tournament in Florida, including a stretch of 15 wins over 16 matches and 20 wins in 22. Stonehill earned a No. 1 ranking in the first two NCAA Division II East Region rankings of the season earlier this season, marking the highest ranking in program history.
Stonehill is led by a quartet of All-NE10 performers in first team selection Abby Remick, second team picks Shannon Burgess and Basia Peragine, along with third team honoree Carly Russell. Seniors Clare Feeman and Lauren Wilke also make key contributions for the Skyhawks.
COMPETING TEAMS IN 2021 NCAA DIVISION II EAST REGIONAL
No. 1 seed – American International College (27-6, 11-2 NE10) … NE10 Regular Season & Tournament Champions (automatic bid)
No. 2 seed – Daemen College (22-7, 12-0 (ECC)… ECC Regular Season & Tournament Champions
No. 3 seed – Stonehill College (21-9, 10-3 NE10)… NE10 (at large bid)
No. 4 seed – University of New Haven (22-9, 10-3 NE10)… NE10 (at large bid)
No. 5 seed – Holy Family University (24-4, 18-0 CACC)… CACC South Division Champions (at large bid)
No. 6 seed – Jefferson University (26-4, 14-4 CACC)… CACC Tournament Champions (automatic bid)
No. 7 seed – Bentley University (15-12, 9-4 NE10)… NE10 (at large bid)
No. 8 seed – Southern Conn. State (23-10, 9-4 NE10)… NE10 (at large bid)
NCAA DIVISION II EAST REGIONAL SCHEDULE
hosted by American International College, Springfield, Mass.
QUARTERFINALS – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2
#6 Jefferson (26-4, 14-4 CACC) vs. #3 Stonehill (21-9, 10-3 NE10), TBA
#7 Bentley (15-12, 9-4 NE10) vs. #2 Daemen (22-7, 12-0 ECC), TBA
#8 Southern Conn. State (23-10, 9-4 NE10) at #1 American International (27-6, 11-2 NE10), TBA
#5 Holy Family (24-4, 18-0 CACC) vs. #4 New Haven (22-9, 10-3 NE10)
SEMIFINALS – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3
#3-#6 winner vs. #2-#7 winner
#1-#8 winner vs. #4-#5 winner
CHAMPIONSHIP – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
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