GAME NOTES
How We Got Here: The Warriors earned the No. 2 seed in the PSAC East after finishing the regular season 21-6 overall and 13-1 in the conference. ESU, who won 17 straight matches from September 16 to November 4, will battle Shepherd for the second time in the last four days and third time this season.
The Rams finished the 2023 regular season 14-14 overall and 9-5 in the PSAC East to secure the No. 3 seed.
The Series: Tuesday will be the 10th meeting all-time between ESU and Shepherd as the Rams joined the conference prior to the 2019 season. The Warriors have defeated the Rams in both matches this season and lead the all-time series with a record of 6-3. Additionally, Tuesday’s match will be the third postseason meeting between the teams and second in the PSAC Tournament as the Warriors defeated Shepherd in five-sets during the 2019 championship match.
Scouting ESU: ESU has dominated the competition this season, ranking in the top-10 of nine different categories in the PSAC and top-15 in three nationally. The Warriors led the conference in digs per set (17.97) and opposing hitting percentage (0.128) while ranking second in aces per set (2.20), second in hitting percentage (0.232) fifth in assists per set (11.20), fifth in kills per set (12.22), sixth in total aces (198), seventh in total digs (1,617) and ninth in blocks (1.83). Nationally, ESU is 12th in both aces per set and opposing hitting percentage as well as 13th in digs per set.
Sophomore Anna Coulter tops the PSAC with a 0.419 hitting percentage and ranks 10th nationally in the category while junior Taylor Haan leads the conference in assists per set (0.62) while ranking fifth in all of NCAA Division II.
The Warriors garnered eight PSAC Weekly Honors during the regular season – Makayla Baca – Defensive Athlete of the Week, Sept. 11 & Oct. 16 | Taylor Haan – Athlete of the Week, Sept. 11 & 18, Defensive Athlete of the Week, Nov. 13 | Anna Coulter – Athlete of the Week, Oct. 23, 30 & Nov. 6
Coach Melfy: Tricia Melfy, who is in her third season at the helm of the ESU volleyball program, owns a record of 54-31 and has led the Warriors to three consecutive trips to the PSAC Tournament.
A Look Ahead: The winner of Tuesday’s quarterfinal game advances to square off against No. 1 W Gannon or No. 4 W Pitt-Johnstown on Friday in the PSAC Semifinals with a location and time still to be determined. If the Warriors are victorious and No. 1 E Shippensburg falls to No. 4 E Lock Haven, ESU will earn the right to host the semifinals and the PSAC Championships match at Koehler Fieldhouse.
