EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg women's volleyball team were named the PSAC Champions for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2019 with their four-set win over Gannon. Set scores were 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, and 25-21.
Anna Coulter was named the Most Valuable Player after she combined for an impressive 41 kills, 21 total blocks, six service aces, and 60.5 points throughout the tournament.
With this win, the Warriors earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament which will begin on Dec. 3. The Warriors enter the NCAA postseason with a 26-5 overall record and a 14 match winning streak.
Gannon had previously won seven straight matches against the Warriors up until tonight. The teams last met in the 2024 PSAC Semifinals when Gannon swept ESU in straight sets.
Notables
Kelly Crites led the Warriors with 16 kills, Romina Martinez added 15, and Coulter recorded 12. Coulter led the floor with nine total blocks, while Kyra Bishop and Crites combined for seven. Bishop set a new career high with 54 assists and Marta Leeland had 23 digs.
How it happened
Set 1: Gannon opened the first set with a five-point run and another to push their lead to 12-4. Consecutive kills from Crites pulled the Warriors within four at 19-15. ESU added a block from Harry Berry/Bishop and a kill from Allison Birtcil just before the Golden Knights took the first set, 25-17.
Set 2: The teams began the second set trading points before Gannon got out to a 10-6 lead. A five-point run from the Warriors tied the score at 11 each. The teams continued to trade points until ESU went on another five-point run to extend their lead to 22-18. Two errors from Gannon handed ESU the second set, 25-21.
Set 3: The Warriors opened the third set with a strong 7-2 run. A Gannon kill pulled the Golden Knights within two at 11-9. ESU stayed in front until Gannon tied the score at 19 each off a five-point run. Gannon took the lead at 21-20 and 22-21, however ESU responded with three kills and a block to give them a 2-1 set advantage. Highlighting that run was kills from Coulter, Berry, and Crites, and a block from Crites.
Set 4: ESU got an early seven-point lead at 11-4. Gannon shortened the deficit to three with a 5-1 run, 16-13. The teams traded four points each to push the score to 24-21. Strong defense and a kill from Martinez sealed the win for the Warriors.
Up Next
ESU automatically receives a bid into the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament with this title. The selection show takes place Monday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. where the Warriors await to see who their opponent will be.
