NCAA Tournament – Volleyball to Face Brockport at Clarkson
Framingham, Mass. – The 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Volleyball Tournament Champion Framingham State University Rams will be making their third appearance in four years in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship Tournament this weekend in Potsdam, N.Y.
The Rams will face Brockport from the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) in an opening round match on Friday, November 13th at 3 p.m. in Alumni Gymnasium on the campus of Clarkson University. The winner will advance to face the winner of the Springfield/Mt. St. Vincent game on Saturday afternoon
Under the direction of 12th year head coach Dick Casali, the Rams went 25-8 this season including a 5-1 mark in the MASCAC en route to a share of the 2015 MASCAC Regular Season Title. The Rams received the MASCAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament after defeating top seed MCLA 3-0 in the final match of the conference tournament.
The Rams are led by MASCAC Player of the Year and two-time MASCAC Tournament MVP junior Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Rackliffe led the conference in kills (452) and kills per set (4.19), while ranking second in hitting percentage (.310) and blocks per set (.82).
Senior outside hitter Danielle Girard (Tivoli, NY) earned first team All-MASCAC honors after leading the Rams with 400 digs for a 3.6 average per set. Girard accumulated 76 services aces on the year and picked up 186 kills. Junior Julia Wan (South Deerfield, Mass.) earned MASCAC second team honors after recording 214 kills and 229 digs on the year to go along with 78 blocks and 50 service aces.
The College at Brockport Golden Eagles received the SUNYAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship after defeating SUNY New Paltz 3-1 to claim their sixth SUNYAC Tournament Title. The Golden Eagles, who were both regular season and tournament champions, captured the Tournament Title behind the play of senior Kayla Barber, who was named the Tournament MVP, while Noelle Poloncarz and Kathleen Irwin were selected to the All-Tournament team. The Golden Eagles enter the NCAA Tournament with an overall record of 33-1 including a 9-0 mark in the SUNYAC.
The Golden Knights of Clarkson University are the host for an eight team regional taking place from Friday, November 13th through Sunday, November 15th. The other teams in the regional include Colby-Sawyer College, Ithaca College, Williams College, Springfield College and Mt. St. Vincent.