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Thomas Herstich

PREVIEW: Women’s Volleyball prepares for NCAA Tournament, Face Charleston in First Round

12/2/2025 6:27:00 PM

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg women's volleyball team is set to compete in the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament for the first time since 2021, facing Charleston (WV) in the first round on Thursday, December 4.  

Gameday Central 
No. 2 East Stroudsburg vs. No. 7 Charleston (WV) 
Thursday, December 4 – 1:30 PM 
Highmark Events Center | Gannon University | Erie, Pa. 
Game Coverage: Watch Live | Live Stats | NCAA Bracket | Tournament Central Page 

Ticket Information 
Hudl Ticket Link 

  • Adults: $12.00 
  • Students with I.D. / Senior Citizens: $6.00 
  • Children, ages 2-12: $6.00 

2025 NCAA DII Atlantic Region Women's Volleyball Tournament Bracket 

  • Host: Gannon - Highmark Events Center - Erie, Pa. 
    • First Round - Thursday, December 4 
      • 11:00 a.m. | No. 3 Indiana (Pa.) vs. No. 6 Fairmont State 
      • 1:30 p.m. | No. 2 East Stroudsburg vs. No. 7 Charleston (WV) 
      • 4:30 p.m. | No. 1 Gannon vs. No. 8 Fayetteville State 
      • 7:00 p.m. | No. 4 Pitt-Johnstown vs. No. 5 Shepherd 
    • Semifinal Round - Friday, December 5 
      • 4:00 p.m. | Winner of Q1 vs. Winner of Q2 
      • 7:00 p.m. | Winner of Q3 vs. Winner of Q4 
    • Regional Finals - Saturday, December 6 
      • 4:00 p.m. | Winner of S1 vs. Winner of S2 

Series History 

  • The teams met earlier this season on Sept. 12 in Charleston (WV), where the Warriors won in straight sets. Leading the team was Anna Coulter and Allison Birtcil who both contributed 11 kills and combined for 29.0 points.
  • The Golden Eagles were led by Emma Antigua with 12 kills and Patrycja Majos with 10 kills.
  • Charleston tallied more kills (43–36), while ESU countered with a strong blocking edge (11-2)

East Stroudsburg Notes

  • The East Stroudsburg women's volleyball team was named the PSAC Champions for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2019 with their four-set win over Gannon on November 22.
  • Senior Anna Coulter was named the PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after she combined for an impressive 41 kills, 21 total blocks, six service aces, and 60.5 points throughout the tournament.
  • This season, the Warriors have earned PSAC Athlete of the Week honors eight times, with Anna Coulter earning five weekly honors.
  • Also standing out for the Warriors has been Marta Leeland, Allison Birtcil, and Kelly Crites. The three were named PSAC Athletes of the Week on Oct. 6, Nov. 10, and Nov. 17, respectively.
  • ESU is 6-0 when matches go to five sets 
  • The Warriors are averaging 12.0 kills/set, 11.2 assists/set, 2.1 aces/set, 2.7 blocks/set, and a .217 hitting percentage.
  • Their opponents are averaging 11.8 kills/set, 11.0 assists/set, 1.6 aces/set, 1.5 blocks/set, and a .140 hitting percentage.
Player Highlights
  • Coulter was awarded PSAC East Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive year, becoming the first female and second student athlete at ESU to earn back-to-back-to-back honors. She also became the second player in volleyball history to earn All-PSAC East First Team honors for all four years.
  • Coulter is tied for first nationally in blocks/set (1.67), first in total blocks (190), 13th in points/set (4.93), and 36th in hitting percentage (.353).
  • Coulter has recorded 409 kills and recently posted a career high (23) on Nov. 18 against Seton Hill in the PSAC Quarterfinals. She has totaled 10.0 or more blocks five times this season and has recorded four matches with 20+ kills.
  • On Wednesday, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) announced that East Stroudsburg University women's volleyball middle blocker Anna Coulter was named the AVCA and D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year and was selected to the All-Atlantic First Team for both.
  • Libero Marta Leeland earned AVCA Atlantic Region Honorable Mention, marking the first time since 2009 a libero was recognized.
  • Freshman Leeland tabbed All-PSAC East First Team honors after stepping into the libero role for the Warriors during her first season.
  • Leeland ranks second in the PSAC in aces/set (0.48) and 41st nationally. She marked a high of six service aces on Nov. 8 against West Chester.
  • Sophomore Kelly Crites ranks second on the team with 329.0 points and 285 kills. She recorded a high of 19 kills on Sept. 20 against Georgian Court and has posted five matches with 15+ kills.
  • Ranking third on team is junior Romina Martinez with 269 kills. Martinez's best night came on Oct. 10 against Shepherd when she posted 17 kills and four total blocks.
  • Senior Allison Birtcil ranks fourth with 220 kills and third with 75.0 total blocks. On Nov. 8 against West Chester, she recorded a career high of 22 kills and had a .364 hitting percentage.
  • Junior Kyra Bishop leads the team with 707 assists and has recorded three matches with 50+ assists. She is second on the team with 78.0 total blocks and fifth in kills (59).

In the Ranks 

  • Nationally, the Warriors are ranked third in blocks/set (2.67), fourth in total blocks (304.0), 18th in service aces (236), and 15th in W-L percentage.

NCAA Tournament History 

  • ESU earned a bid into the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time overall and first time since 2021. The Warriors previously made appearances in 2021, 2019, and 2000.

Head Coach Tricia Melfy

  • Head Coach Tricia Melfy was named the AVCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, released Wednesday morning. 
  • Under fifth year head coach Tricia Melfy, the team will enter the tournament with a 26-5 overall record and a 14-match win streak.
  • Melfy recently reached 100 wins at ESU on Nov. 21 with their three-set win over Indiana (Pa.) in the PSAC Semifinals.
  • She has led the Warriors to 101 wins, a .692 winning percentage, made appearances in the PSAC Tournament all five years, a PSAC Championship title, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Charleston (WV) Notes 

  • Apart of the Mountain East Conference, the Golden Eagles will enter the tournament with a 23-12 overall record.
  • Charleston (WV) went 3-0 in the MEC Tournament to be crowned the champions, defeating Wheeling (3-2), Concord (3-1), and West Virginia State (3-1).
  • Against PSAC opponents, the Golden Eagles are 1-6, with their lone win coming against Millersville on Sept. 6.
  • The Golden Eagles are averaging 13.1 kills/set, 12.1 assists/set, 2.2 aces/set, 2.0 blocks/set, and a .203 hitting percentage.
  • Their opponents are averaging 10.4 kills/set, 9.5 assists/set, 1.8 aces/set, 1.9 blocks/set, and a .141 hitting percentage.
  • Charleston is making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022 when they defeated Fairmont State (3-0) in the first round, but lost to Gannon in five sets in the second round.

The winners of the eight regionals will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on December 11-13 in Sious Falls, S.D. 

 
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