Women's Volleyball to Face Springfield in NCAA Tournament

NCAA Bracket | Official Game Program

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — For the second time in program history and first time since 2018, the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team has earned a berth into the NCAA Division III Championship.

The Leopards punched their ticket after grabbing the Commonwealth Coast Conference's automatic bid on Saturday with a thrilling, 3-2 win over Endicott in front of a packed Tansey Gymnasium. The title was the Black & Gold's second in program history, with the first coming five years ago.

One of 42 conferences to earn a berth by way of the automatic qualifier, Wentworth (23-5) will face Springfield (26-4) in an opening-round contest on Thursday (November 16) on the campus of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., at 11:30 a.m. The Pride, finalists in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Tournament, were one of 21 institutions to earn at at-large berth into the tournament.

First-year head coach Nick Baldecchi's squad has posted the second highest win total in program history, just two behind the mark of 25, set in 2018. The Leopards are also riding a 15-match win steak, matching the longest in program history, also set during the 2018 season.

The winner of the Wentworth/Springfield match will face the winner of the Mary Washington (28-4)/Hunter (22-9) match in the regional semifinals on Friday, with that winner facing the winner of the top-half of the bracket for the regional championship on Saturday, November 16. The eight regional winners will head to Claremont, Calif. for the national quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship, beginning on November 29, on the campus of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

This will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

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