PENN STATE ALTOONA DRAWS JUNIATA IN NCAA REGIONAL, BEHREND EARNS ECAC BID

The Penn State Altoona women's volleyball learned on Monday afternoon that it would be facing No. 1 Juniata College in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament this week.

Penn State Altoona will face Juniata, the top-ranked team in the nation among Division III women's volleyball programs, in the first round of the Huntingdon (Pa.) Region bracket this Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m. The winner of that match will advance to the regional semifinal on Friday, November 17 at 7 p.m.

View the complete NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament bracket

Penn State Altoona is 16-10 overall this season, including an 8-1 record within the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference that gave the Lions the league's regular season championship. As the top seed in the conference tournament, Penn State Altoona received a first-round bye, then defeated La Roche University and Alfred State College to claim the program's third-ever AMCC title and first since 2011. Thursday's match marks the Lions' third NCAA postseason appearance.

Juniata holds a spotless 29-0 record this season, surrendering just five sets throughout the fall. In the Landmark Conference tournament, the Eagles posted victories over Susquehanna University and the University of Scranton to win their 16th consecutive conference championship and 42nd conference title in team history.

All of this week's matches in the Huntingdon Region will be played at Juniata's Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center. Single-day tickets will be $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and veterans, $8 for students with IDs, and $5 for children aged 12 and under. Children aged two and under will have free admission.

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The Penn State Behrend women's volleyball team will travel to William Patterson University to take on Allegheny College in the semifinals of the 2023 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships on Saturday.

The Lions are making their ninth appearance and second straight in the ECAC Championship Tournament. Behrend enters with a 21-6 overall record, falling in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) semifinals last weekend. Behrend won the ECAC South Region Championship in 2008. The Lions and Allegheny met during the regular season. The Gators posted a 3-0 victory at home on September 13.

The Gators are 22-9 overall and defeated Grove City in the PAC Tournament 3-1 before falling to Bethany 3-0 in the semifinals.

The hosts, William Patterson, will battle FDU-Florham in the other semifinal. The two winners will battle for the ECAC Championship on Sunday.