ECC Player of the Year Ashley Drzymala leads Daemen into its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance

Women's Volleyball 11/29/2016 1:45:00 PM Mike Miranto, Associate A.D. For Communications

Wildcats Set For NCAA Tourney Debut

Daemen Hosts East Regional Portion Of NCAA Volleyball Championship

THE LEAD
For the first time ever an NCAA postseason event comes to Lumsden Gymnasium as Daemen College is set to host the East Region Championship portion of the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship...the competition here - one of eight regional championships across the country this week - features the top eight teams in the NCAA Division II East Region which is comprised of the East Coast Conference, Northeast-10 Conference and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference...Daemen enters as the No. 2 seed in the region, and will face No. 7 Post in the first round on Thursday evening...the winner of this eight-team event advances to the Elite 8 which is slated for Dec. 8-10 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tournament Schedule Announcement

First Round - Thursday, Dec. 1
12:00 p.m.	No. 4 American International vs. No. 5 Le Moyne	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS
2:30 p.m.	No. 1 N.Y. Institute of Technology vs. No. 8 Adelphi	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS
5:00 p.m.	No. 3 New Haven vs. No. 6 Philadelphia	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS
7:30 p.m.	No. 2 Daemen vs. No. 7 Post	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS

Second Round - Friday, Dec. 2
5:00 p.m.	Semifinal #1 - NYIT/Adelphi winner vs. American International/Le Moyne winner	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS
7:30 p.m.	Semifinal #2 - Daemen/Post winner vs. New Haven/Philadelphia winner	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS

Regional Finals - Saturday, Dec. 3
5:00 p.m.	Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2	LIVE VIDEO	LIVE STATS

NCAA TOURNAMENT LINKS
Interactive Bracket \| Printable Bracket \| Selection Show \| NCAA Release \| Digital Program

TEAM SCOUTING REPORTS

NYIT BEARS Twitter: @NYITBears, @NYITVB
RECORD:	28-5, 11-3 ECC
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 1
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	11
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	2015, National Quarterfinals
COACH:	Gail Wasmus Career Record: 599-400, 31st season (.600 winning percentage) At NYIT: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	Automatic - ECC Tournament Champions
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	The defending East Region champions finished second in the ECC this season before knocking off Bridgeport and Daemen to earn the program's first ECC Tournament title since 1990 Rattled off 10 straight wins to start the season before dropping two straight to Stonehill and Pace in mid-September Had an eight-match win streak snapped with a five-set loss at Bridgeport on Oct. 13 Went just 3-3 from Oct. 13 through Nov. 1 Enter NCAA Tournament play as winners in seven straight matches Hold a 6-1 record against East Regional qualifiers, including a 3-1 win over their first-round opponent Adelphi back on Oct. 27
KEY PLAYERS:	OH - Tiffany Verni (So., 5-8, Patchogue, N.Y.)	454 kills, 3.69 kills/set, .221 hitting percentage, 152 digs 1st Team All-ECC
	OH - Karolina Moderova (Jr., 5-10, Zalesie, Slovakia)	379 kills, 3.48 kills/set, .192 hitting percentage, 347 digs, 51 service aces 1st Team All-ECC
	S/RS - Allison Fowler (Jr., 5-9, Centennial, Colo.)	1028 assists, 9.79 assists/set, 295 digs, 96 kills 1st Team All-ECC, ECC Setter of the Year, ECC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
	MB - Rachel Guida (Sr., 6-2, Huntington, N.Y.)	296 kills, 2/47 kills/set .319 hitting percentage, 146 blocks 1st Team All-ECC

DAEMEN WILDCATS Twitter: @DaemenAthletics, @DaemenVB
RECORD:	23-7, 13-1 ECC
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 2
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	1
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	N/A
COACH:	Stephanie Albano Career Record: 23-7. first season (.767 winning percentage) At Daemen: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	At-Large
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	ECC regular season champs for the first time in team history Started slowly with eight wins in their first 14 contests Picked things up and rattled off 15 consecutive wins from Oct. 2 through Nov. 18 Making their first-ever ECC Tournament appearance, knocked off fourth-seeded LIU Post in the semifinals before falling on home court to second-seeded NYIT in four sets, snapping 15-match win streak 6-2 in five-set matches Hold a 2-3 record against East Regional qualifiers; only team in the field with a win over top-seeded NYIT Also hold wins over Atlantic Regional qualifiers Shaw and California (Pa.)
KEY PLAYERS:	OH - Ashley Drzymala (So., 5-10, West Seneca, N.Y.)	399 kills, 3.53 kills/set, .229 hitting percentage, 48 service aces, 302 digs 1st Team All-ECC, ECC Player of the Year
	OH - Amber Drzymala (Sr., 5-9, West Seneca, N.Y.)	348 kills, 3.05 kills/set, .199 hitting percentage, 35 service aces, 336 digs 1st Team All-ECC
	S - Bailey Dolegowski (Fr., 5-8, Marilla, N.Y.)	1067 assists, 9.70 assists/set, 42 service aces, 272 digs 2nd Team All-ECC, ECC Co-Rookie of the Year

NEW HAVEN CHARGERS Twitter: @UNHChargers, @ChargersVball
RECORD:	19-8, 11-3 NE-10
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 3
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	31
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	2015, First Round
COACH:	Robin Salters Career Record: 623-188, 23rd season (.768 winning percentage) At New Haven: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	Automatic - NE-10 Tournament Champions
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	Finished tied for second in NE-10 regular season standings Knocked off sixth-seeded Franklin Pierce, second-seeded American International and fifth-seeded Adelphi in NE-10 Conference Tournament to capture the league championship for the fifth time in its history Making its eleventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance Hold a 3-3 record against East Regional qualifiers Enter NCAA Tournament play as winners of five straight matches
KEY PLAYERS:	MB - Alex Bussey (Jr., 5-11, Atlanta, Ga.)	197 kills, 2.21 kills/set, .262 hitting percentage, 100 blocks 3rd Team All-NE-10
	RS/S - Kristine Rios (So., 5-8, Miami, Fla.)	243 kills, 2.48 kills/set, .255 hitting percentage, 522 assists, 344 digs 3rd Team All-NE-10, NE-10 Championship All-Tournament Team (MVP)
	RS - Mallory Nowicki (Fr., 6-0, Grand Rapids, Mich.)	197 kills, 2.21 kills/set, .237 hitting percentage NE-10 All-Rookie Team
	OH - Meghan Kennelly (Sr., 5-9, Detroit, Mich.)	256 kills, 2.91 kills/set, .178 hitting percentage, 342 digs NE-10 Championship All-Tournament Team

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL YELLOW JACKETS Twitter: @aicathletics, @AICvb
RECORD:	25-6, 11-3 NE-10
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 4
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	2
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	2010, First Round
COACH:	Matt Cribbin Career Record: 95-105, eighth season (.475 winning percentage) At American International: 75-73, fifth season (.507 winning percentage)
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats
BID TYPE:	At-Large
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	Finished tied for second in NE-10 regular season standings Started the season with 13 wins in their first 15 outings, falling only to defending East Region champ NYIT and nationally-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Won final eight matches of regular season and entered NE-10 Tournament as No. 2 seed Knocked off seventh-seeded Bentley in NE-10 Tournament quarterfinals before falling on home court to third-seeded and eventual champ New Haven in five sets Hold a 2-4 record against East Regional qualifiers Lost their only matchup of the season with their first round opponent Le Moyne, falling on the road in five sets back on Sept. 27
KEY PLAYERS:	OH - Diva Rivas-Reyes (So., 5-10, Tucson, Ariz.)	425 kills, 4.05 kills/set, .232 hitting percentage 1st Team All-NE-10, NE-10 Player of the Year
	DS - Mercy Rivera (Jr., 5-8, Canovanas, P.R.)	706 digs, 5.93 digs/set, 29 service aces 1st Team All-NE-10, NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year, NE-10 Championship All-Tournament Team
	S - Dolores Kopren (So., 5-7, Novi Sad, Serbia)	1347 assists, 11.51 assists/set, 62 service aces, 287 digs 1st Team All-NE-10
	OH - Jana Potic (Fr., 5-10, Belgrade, Serbia)	329 kills, 2.86 kills/set, .220 hitting percentage, 51 blocks 2nd Team All-NE-10, NE-10 All-Rookie Team, NE-10 Rookie of the Year

LE MOYNE DOLPHINS Twitter: @LeMoyneDolphins, @LeMoyneVBALL
RECORD:	22-6, 12-2 NE-10
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 5
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	1
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	N/A
COACH:	Lizzie Cheek Career Record: 61-44, fourth season (.581 winning percentage) At Le Moyne: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	At-Large
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	Finished as the NE-10 regular season champs with just two conference losses this season Opened the season with 12 wins in their first 15 outings Closed the regular season with seven straight wins Entered the NE-10 Tournament as the top seed, but fell in the quarterfinals to eighth-seeded Pace in four sets Own a 3-2 record vs. East Regional qualifiers, including a five-set win over their opening round opponent, American International, back on Sept. 27
KEY PLAYERS:	S - Kendall Corcoran (Jr., 5-9, Fort Salonga, N.Y.)	1183 assists, 10.75 assists/set, 31 service aces, 261 digs 1st Team All-NE-10, NE-10 Setter of the Year
	RS - Jessica Miller (So., 5-11, Williamsville, N.Y.)	328 kills, 3.04 kills/set, .230 hitting percentage, 54 blocks 1st Team All-NE-10
	OH - Natalie Casson (Sr., 5-10, Kingman, Ariz.)	337 kills, 3.06 kills/set, .197 hitting percentage, 316 digs 2nd Team All-NE-10
	DS - Mikayla Porr (So., 5-3, Massapequa, N.Y.)	603 digs, 5.48 digs/set, 53 service aces 2nd Team All-NE-10

PHILADELPHIA RAMS Twitter: @PhilaURams
RECORD:	29-4, 18-1 CACC
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 6
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	1
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	N/A
COACH:	Tim Moyer Career Record: 50-11, second season (.820 winning percentage) At Philadelphia: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	Automatic - CACC Tournament Champions
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	Regular season champions of the CACC South Division, went on to win three CACC Tournament matches while only dropping one set to earn the program's first-ever CACC Tournament crown Defeated Nyack, Bloomfield and Caldwell in the CAC Tournament Enter NCAA Tournament play having won 17 consecutive matches; last suffered defeat on Oct. 1 vs. Bloomfield Have played just two matches this season vs. East Regional qualifiers, splitting those two matches
KEY PLAYERS:	MB - Corinne Justus (Jr., 5-11, Allentown, Pa.)	251 kills, 2.92 kills/set, .301 hitting percentage, 74 blocks 1st Team All-CACC, CACC All-Tournament Team
	OH - Courtney Wensel (So., 6-0, Bechtelsville, Pa.)	452 kills, 3.86 kills/set, .201 hitting percentage, 51 service aces, 484 digs 1st Team All-CACC, CACC Tournament MVP
	S - Alexandra Harrington (So., 5-8, St. Leonard, Md.)	1236 assists, 10.75 assists/set, 200 digs 2nd Team All-CACC

POST EAGLES Twitter: @GoPostEagles, @PostVBall
RECORD:	26-5, 17-2 CACC
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 7
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	3
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	2015, First Round
COACH:	Michael Brienza Career Record: 134-183, 10th season (.423 winning percentage) At Post: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	At-Large
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	Regular season champions of the CACC North Division Three of five losses this season came in the month of September Winners in 15 of their final 16 regular season matches, including 14 in a row from Sept. 27 through Nov. 5 Advanced to the semifinals of the CACC Tournament, where they bowed out against Caldwell in five sets, ending their bid for the program's third straight CACC Tournament championship Own a 2-3 record vs. East Regional qualifiers this season
KEY PLAYERS:	MB - Skylar German (Sr., 5-10, Kansas City, Mo.)	376 kills, 3.65 kills/set, .381 hitting percentage, 42 service aces, 261 digs, 105 blocks 1st Team All-CACC, CACC Player of the Year
	S - Brianna Root (So., 5-5, Bristol, Conn.)	1193 assists, 11.15 assists/set, 279 digs 1st Team All-CACC
	OH - Hailey Griffin (Sr., 5-11, Plainfield, Conn.)	328 kills, 3.07 kills/set, .213 hitting percentage, 346 digs 2nd Team All-CACC

ADELPHI PANTHERS Twitter: @AUPanthers
RECORD:	20-12, 9-5 NE-10
REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SEED:	No. 8
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT BIDS:	10
LAST NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE:	2015, Second Round
COACH:	Danielle MacKnight Career Record: 230-108, 10th season (.680 winning percentage) At Adelphi: Same
LINKS:	Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Tournament Bid Press Release
BID TYPE:	At-Large
HOW THEY GOT HERE:	Finished tied for fifth in the NE-10 regular season standings Rebounded from a 3-6 start with an 11-2 stretch covering Sept. 17 to Oct. 22 As the No. 5 seed in the NE-10 Tournament, knocked off fourth-seeded St. Anselm in the quarterfinals, and surprise winner eighth-seeded Pace in the semifinals Bowed out in the NE-10 Tournament finals in four sets vs. third-seeded New Haven Own a 1-4 record vs. East Regional qualifiers Fell in four sets earlier in the season (Oct. 27) to their opening round opponent, top-seeded NYIT NYIT defeated the Panthers in the second round of last season's East Regional
KEY PLAYERS:	OH - Melissa Rigo (Gr., 6-0, Elwood, N.Y.)	477 kills, 4.15 kills/set, .275 hitting percentage, 50 service aces, 362 digs 1st Team All-NE-10, NE-10 Championship All-Tournament Team
	OH - Mandy Stanislovaitis (Sr., 5-10, West Chester, Ohio)	345 kills, 2.97 kills/set, .182 hitting percentage, 267 digs
	S - Megan Manierski (Jr., 5-10, Macomb, Mich.)	1046 assists, 9.26 assists/set, 234 digs, 39 service aces

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Players Mentioned

#1 Kailey Ballou: L; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#13 Amber Drzymala: OH; 5' 9"; Senior

#10 Ashley Drzymala: OH; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#7 Courtney Scanlan: OH; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#14 Bailey Dolegowski: S; 5' 8"; Freshman

#2 Meghan Ballou: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#15 Cristina Apostol: MB; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Kailey Ballou
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: L

#13 Amber Drzymala
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OH

#10 Ashley Drzymala
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OH

#7 Courtney Scanlan
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: OH

#14 Bailey Dolegowski
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: S

#2 Meghan Ballou
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

#15 Cristina Apostol
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: MB