SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The No. 6-seeded Saint Anselm College women's volleyball team travels to the No. 3-seeded American International College for a Northeast 10 Conference quarterfinals matchup at Henry A. Butova Gymnasium at 6 p.m. tonight.
The Hawks make their first playoff appearance under the guidance of second-year head coach
Anna Platek, and their fourth trip to the NE10 playoffs in the last five years. Saint Anselm aims to pick up its first postseason win since 2019 in just its second meeting against the Yellow Jackets in the NE10 tournament. AIC won the lone meeting in three sets in 2003.
The Hawks clinched their postseason berth, going 12-12 overall and 4-5 in conference play to finish the regular season in sixth place in the NE10 final standings. The Yellow Jackets hosted the Hawks on Oct. 31st this season, defeating Saint Anselm in four sets for their fourth straight win over the Hawks.
Saint Anselm heads into postseason play ranked fourth in total points (1,346), kills (1,007), service aces (197), and assists (954) in the NE10. The Hawks are third in digs with 1,391, and freshman setter
Mckenna O'Connell sits at third in the conference in assists with 787. O'Connell is also second on the squad in digs with 238 and leads the team with 11 double-doubles this season. Her 20 blocks are third-best on the Hawks while attacking at a team-high .217 percentage.
Junior outside hitter
Hollyn Frano, who was just named NE10 Player of the Week on Monday, ranks fifth in the conference with 225 kills on the season, the most on the team. Frano also leads the team in points (256), while being fourth on the team in digs (156).
Junior libero
Madeline Burke is tops on the team and ranks third in the conference with 367 digs, 3.99 per set, a career-high mark defending the back line for the Hawks. Freshman
Peyton Elward is second on the team with 230 points, third on the team with 159 kills, and her 55 blocks (19 solo, 36 assists) lead the squad. Elward is also second in aces with 34 for Saint Anselm.
AIC, which won last year's NE10 Championship, is 16-6 and 7-2 in NE10 play this season. The Yellow Jackets are riding a three-match winning streak, including four straight conference matchups and six straight at home.
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