By: Connor Glunt, Director of Athletic Communications
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The East Stroudsburg women's volleyball team is set to take on the Seton Hill Griffins in the first round of the PSAC Tournament tonight at 7 p.m. at Koehler Fieldhouse.
WHAT: PSAC Quarterfinals — Women's Volleyball
WHERE: Koehler Fieldhouse | East Stroudsburg, Pa.
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL: https://psacsports.org/tournaments/?id=193
IN-GAME COVERAGE: Live Stats and
Video
TICKETS: Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | Sports | Tickets | Hudl
HISTORY
The ESU women's volleyball team is making its seventh-straight conference tournament appearance, eyeing its first championship since 2019. During that championship run, the Warriors defeated Seton Hill in the only postseason meeting between the two programs, 3-1. ESU has won both of its matches against the Griffins that year, snapping a six-match losing streak spanning from 2013-2018. The team's have not met since their PSAC Quarterfinal match in 2019. Last season, both team's were knocked out of the conference tournament by Gannon; Seton Hill falling in the quarterfinals and ESU in the semifinals.
SCOUTING EAST STROUDSBURG
The Warriors built up a 23-5 overall record and went 13-1 in-conference this season, their most wins in the regular season since 2019 and first PSAC East Championship since 2021. After starting 12-5, ESU rattled off 11-straight wins to end the season, overtaking Shippensburg for the division lead and title on the last day of the season.
The Warriors hold statistical advantages over their opponents, leading in total blocks (271.0-149.0), aces (220-159), and recording fewer attacking errors (443-666). Across the conference, the Warriors are top-four in every major stat category. ESU ranks first in blocks and blocks per set (2.66), opponent hitting percentage (.137), and opponent blocks per set (1.46), while also finishing fourth in hitting percentage (.214) and service aces (220).
ESU has had multiple athletes step up to lead them through their division-championship season, as a Warrior has earned a PSAC Athlete of the Week honor eight times. MB
Anna Coulter has been one of the top athletes in the conference all year, as she owns five of the weekly awards just this season. Coulter was recognized as a top performer in the PSAC East three weeks in a row, and recently was named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week on Nov. 17 for after combining for 19 blocks in wins against Shippensburg and Shepherd. Across the PSAC, Coulter ranks first in blocks (169), third in kills (368), and first in points (501.5)
Also standing out for the Warriors has been L
Marta Leeland, OPP
Allison Birtcil, and OH
Kelly Crites. The three were named PSAC Athletes of the Week on Oct. 6, Nov. 10, and Nov. 17, respectively. Leeland has stepped into the Warriors starting lineup as a freshman, as she leads the team in digs (484, 5.09 per set) and ranks second in the conference with .51 service aces per set. Birtcil has recorded 238.5 points for the Warriors on the season, finishing the year second on the team in blocks with 69.0. Crites has been right behind Coulter offensively as the second threat for ESU, posting 239 kills with 2.44 per set.
The Warriors finished the regular season with five players recording over 100.0 total points, with Coulter, Crites, OH
Romina Martinez, Birtcil, and S/OPP
Kyra Bishop all clearing the century mark. The Warriors have home-court advantage in the quarterfinals, as ESU has put together a perfect 10-0 record when playing at Koehler Fieldhouse this season. The Warriors are 5-0 when matches go to five sets, but are 0-2 in the only matches they've gone up against PSAC West teams, falling to Indiana (Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown in four sets back in September. The Warriors were ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Rankings that came out on Nov. 9, trailing Gannon, Shippensburg, and Indiana (Pa.).
SCOUTING SETON HILL
The Griffins went 15-11 in the regular season, finishing with a 7-7 in-conference record and as the fourth seed in the PSAC West. If there's been a weakness with the Griffins, it's been their road performances. Seton Hill is 2-7 on the road, a stark difference from its 8-2 home record. However, seven of the Griffins' last eight matches were home, going 5-2 when playing in Greensburg, Pa. Seton Hill has not played a road match since beating California (Pa.) in four sets on Oct. 24.
Seton Hill has put up modest team statistics compared to the rest of the conference, as the Griffins rank 14
th in kills (1,121), and ninth in hitting percentage (.184) and total blocks (189.0).
A couple of standouts have led the Griffins though, carrying them to the postseason. MH Catie Flohr is third in the conference in kills (297), seventh in hitting percentage (.300), and eighth in total points (382.5). Flohr is also ninth in the conference in blocks (92.0), while her teammate MH Emma Meurer is 11
th with 83.0. Their lead setter, Mallory Meinen, is 12
th in the PSAC in assists with 409, averaging 5.45 per set.
The Griffins closed out their regular season with a pair of matches against PSAC Tournament teams on the east side, splitting the slate to go 1-1. Seton Hill took down Pitt-Johnstown in five sets, but fell to the Crimson Hawks in five the following night.
ACROSS THE LEAGUE
ESU earned the one seed in the PSAC East, hosting the fourth-seeded
No. 1 (E) East Stroudsburg vs. No. 4 (W) Seton Hill (7:00 p.m.)
No. 2 (W) Indiana (Pa.) vs. No. 3 (E) Shepherd (6:00 p.m.)
No. 2 (E) Shippensburg vs. No. 3 (W) Pitt-Johnstown (7:00 p.m.)
No. 1 (W) Gannon vs. No. 4 (E) West Chester (7:00 p.m.)
POTENTIAL OPPONENTS
If the Warriors advance Tuesday night, they'll host the semifinal and final rounds of the PSAC Tournament. In the semifinals, ESU would take on the winner between Indiana (Pa.) and Shepherd. The semifinals will take place on Nov. 21 and the championship will be the following day on Nov. 22.
