INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Gallaudet University women's volleyball team (30-4) will face Stevens Institute of Technology (27-6) in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Division III women's volleyball championship on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 11:30 a.m. in Newport News, Va., on the campus of Christopher Newport University.
The Bison earned the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after they successfully defended their United East Conference championship this past Saturday on Padden Court in the Field House. Top-seed Gallaudet swept second-seed Lancaster Bible College to win their third United East title in four years. GU has now won 10 United East titles since it joined the conference in 2010. The Bison won seven straight titles from 2010-16 when the conference used to be known as the North Eastern Athletic Conference. This will be Gallaudet's 15th appearance in the NCAA tournament where they hold a 2-14 all-time record. This is the 11th time GU has appeared in the NCAA tournament under head coach Lynn Ray Boren, who is now in his 19th season.
Stevens won its fifth straight MAC Freedom championship last Saturday with a 3-2 win over Misericordia and bring a 12-match win streak into Thursday's showdown with the Bison, who have won 22 straight. The Ducks are making their 15th overall appearance in the NCAA tournament where they sport a 19-14 record.
Christopher Newport is one of the eight regional hosts. The other first-round matches in the CNU regional include; Washington and Lee (32-2) vs. John Jay (22-6) at 2 p.m., East Texas Baptist (28-1) vs. Allegheny (26-5) at 4:30 p.m. and the host Captains (24-9) vs. William Paterson (22-9) at 7 p.m. in the Freeman Center. No. 9 East Texas Baptist and No. 12 Washington & Lee are the only other nationally-ranked teams, in the latest AVCA poll, in this regional.
The winners will advance to Friday's second round which begins at 4:30 p.m. and the regional final on Saturday at 7 p.m.
This will be Gallaudet's fifth visit to a Christopher Newport University regional since 2010 and the first in a decade (2014). GU also appeared in Newport News, Va., for three consecutive years (2010-12).
This will be the first meeting between the Bison and Ducks since 2008 when GU played in an early-season tournament at Stevens. The Ducks won the match against the Bison, 3-1. Gallaudet and Stevens both hail from Region IV and have four common opponents played this season in Arcadia, Marymount (Va.), Salisbury, Stevenson. GU went 4-1 against the common opponents with two win over Marymount and a loss to Salisbury. Stevens went 3-1 against the four teams with a loss to Salisbury.
GU has gone up against five other tournament teams this season in Messiah, Marymount (Va.), Middlebury, Salisbury and Smith. All of which won their respective conferences automatic bid except for the Sea Gulls. GU went 4-2 against those teams this season.
GU hasn't dropped a set in seven straight matches and will aim to continue the winning momentum and try to advance past the first round for the first time since 2006 when the Bison lost to the eventual national champion, Juniata, in the regional final.
The NCAA Division III quarterfinal round will begin on Dec. 4 at Roanoke College in Salem, Va., with the semifinals and finals continuing through the weekend. The championship will be on Dec. 7.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets will go on sale 60 minutes before the start of the first match each day and will not be sold in advance.
Single-Day Tickets: $10 (Adults), $5 (Children & Seniors)
2024 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship
