Volleyball Set For First Appearance In USCAA Tournament
MEDIA, Pa. -- Fresh off its first-ever Penn State University Athletic Conference championship, Penn State Brandywine will make its national debut at the USCAA Volleyball Tournament on Thursday in Canton, N.Y.
Brandywine, seeded eighth in the tournament, will play four games in Pool A on Thursday and Friday. If the Lions complete pool play with one of the top four records in the five-team Pool A, they advance to the national quarterfinals on Friday night. The semifinal and championship rounds will be played Saturday on the campus of SUNY Canton.
Brandywine enters the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the country, having won 13-straight matches, and owns the top winning percentage in the USCAA (.870) with its 20-3 record. The Lions have dropped just one set since their last loss on Sept. 24.
Led by PSUAC Coach of the Year Melissa Algeo, Brandywine captured their first conference crown on Oct. 25 with a 3-1 triumph over seven-time defending champion Penn State Fayette at Rec Hall. Brandywine did not lose a match in league play all season, posting an 18-0 record against PSUAC opponents.
Along with its conference title, Brandywine claimed all three of the PSUAC's major individual awards and features four all-PSUAC standouts. Miranda Biondi was named PSUAC Player of the Year and earned first team all-conference recognition for the fourth time in her career. Nicole Costa and Nikki Poissant were also first team performers, while Kim Russo was selected to the second team. Freshman Halee Kusner was tabbed as the league's newcomer of the year.
In its USCAA opener, Brandywine will face a stiff test in defending national champion Florida College. The top-seeded Falcons own a 23-5 record and have won nine national titles overall.
After squaring off with Florida College at 11:30 am, Brandywine will play two more matches Thursday afternoon. The Lions face No. 4 Alfred State at 2:30 pm and close out day one against No. 9 Maine Fort Kent at 5:00 pm. Pool play ends for the Lions following their game against fifth-seeded St. Mary of the Woods at 1:00 pm on Friday.
Live stats and video will be provided for every match of the USCAA Tournament. Links can be found at www.psubrandywineathletics.com.
