No. 5 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (31-6) vs. No. 4 HILLSDALE CHARGERS (30-4)
NCAA Division II Elite Eight - Quarterfinals
DATE/TIME: Thursday, December 9, 2021 | 5:00 p.m.
ARENA/LOCATION: Bob Martinez Athletics Center | Tampa, Fla.

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NCAA DIVISION II ELITE EIGHT SCHEDULE
Bob Martinez Athletics Center, University of Tampa
 
Thursday, December 9
National Quarterfinals
12 Noon: No. 3 Washburn (29-5) vs. No. 6 West Texas A&M (26-4)
2:30 p.m.: #2 Western Washington (24-4) vs. #7 Daemen (25-7)
5 p.m.: #4 Hillsdale (30-4) vs. #5 GANNON (31-6)
7:30 p.m.: #1 Tampa (31-2) vs. #8 Augusta (25-8)
 
Friday, December 10
National Semifinals
5 p.m.: Quarterfinal #1 Winner vs. Quarterfinal #2 Winner
7:30 p.m.: Quarterfinal #3 Winner vs. Quarterfinal #4 Winner
 
Saturday, December 11
National Championship
5 p.m.: Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner

GANNON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Gannon has an enjoyed a long and successful history in the NCAA Division II Tournament, with this marking the 18^th appearance in the tournament. The Golden Knights are 20-17 overall in NCAA Tournament action. They first qualified for the NCAA's in 1988 under head coach Gerry Burbules. During the 1990's Gannon appeared in the NCAA Tournament from 1991-95, with Burbules guiding the Golden Knights to Elite Eight appearances in 1991, '92, and '93. Gannon would return to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 with current head coach Matt Darling in his third year at the helm. Since that time, the Knights have qualified for the NCAA's 12 straight years. Darling led his squad to the Final Four in 2017, the Elite Eight in 2019 and now in 2021, along with a Sweet 16 appearance in 2015, and five regional finals. While the NCAA did not host a postseason championship last year, Gannon competed in the AVCA National Championship Tournament, winning two of its six matches.
 
THE GANNON-HILLSDALE SERIES
Hillsdale leads the all-time series 23-14

Gannon and Hillsdale met three times this past spring during the COVID campaign, with the Golden Knights upsetting a Hillsdale team that came in ranked number one in the country. Gannon won 3-1 by scores of 15-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18. The two would meet again in the 2021 AVCA National Championships in April, with Hillsdale winning narrow 3-2 decisions in both matches.
 
Last Meeting: Apr. 17, 2021 – Hillsdale def. Gannon, 3-2 (19-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-18, 15-10)
Gannon and Hillsdale met twice this past April in the 2021 AVCA National Championship, with the Chargers claiming a pair of 3-2 wins. In the first meeting, which Hillsdale won by scores of 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13, Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) finished with 25 kills, with Kristin Schorr (Evansville, Ind./North Posey) adding 16 and Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) 10. Valeria Torres (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame) (32 assists) and Kaeli Kristensen (Calgary, Alberta/Dr. E.P. Scarlett) (26) split setting duties, while Kenzie Lasher (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) contributed 28 digs. Schorr had 18 digs, with Torres and Sampson totaling 17 apiece.
 
In the second meeting, Hillsdale once again prevailed in five sets, winning the fifth by a 15-10 score. Sampson again paced the Golden Knights with 26 kills, with Torres showing 24 assists and Kristensen 23. Lasher was credited with 26 digs, Schorr 18, Sampson 13, and Torres 11.

PREVIEW
After looking like it was going to be a short trip to West Virginia for the Gannon women's volleyball team, the Golden Knights now head to the Sunshine State to compete in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. It marks the third time in the last four years that head coach Matt Darling has led his team to the Elite Eight. Gannon (31-6) is seeded fifth in the tournament and will face No. 4 Hillsdale (30-4) on Thursday, December 9 at 5:00 p.m. The University of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission are serving as co-hosts at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.
 
Second-seeded Gannon trailed No. 7 East Stroudsburg 2-0 last week in the Atlantic Regional quarterfinals. The Golden Knights proceeded to come alive and dominated the Warriors the rest of the way to win 3-2. That was followed by 3-0 wins over No. 6 West Virginia State and top-seeded and host Wheeling to win the Atlantic Regional and punch their ticket to the Elite Eight.
 
Thursday's action begins with No. 3 Washburn (29-5) meeting No. 6 West Texas A&M (26-4) at noon. Western Washington (24-4), the second seed, squares off against No. 7 Daemen (25-7) at 2:30 p.m. Following the 5:30 p.m. Gannon/Hillsdale contest, top-seed Tampa (31-2) wraps up the quarterfinals with a 7:30 p.m. contest vs. No. 8 Augusta (25-8).
 
The semifinals are set for Friday, December 10. The winners of Thursday's first two games play at 5:00 p.m., followed by the second semifinal between the winners of games 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. The National Championship match gets underway at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11 between Friday's winners.
 
Gannon is making its 12th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and has reached the Elite Eight for the sixth time. The Golden Knights also made it in 2019 as the seventh seed, dropping a 3-1 decision to No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney. Darling, who picked up his 350th career victory in the regional semifinal, guided the 2017 Gannon edition to the Final Four, the furthest GU had ever advanced.  The Golden Knights defeated Regis, 3-0, before Florida Southern ended Gannon's run at a national championship with a narrow 3-2 decision. The Golden Knights came in as the number seven seed, while Regis was seeded second and Florida Southern third. Gannon also reached the Elite Eight in 1991, '92, and '93.
 
The Golden Knights are 31-6 and have now won 30-or-more matches the last five years, not including the shortened 2020-21 season. Hillsdale owns a 30-4 record after winning the Midwest Regional with a 3-1 decision over top-seeded Ferris State. The Chargers are making their second appearance in the Elite Eight riding a ten-game winning streak.
 
Gannon won a share of the PSAC West Regular Season Championship and advanced to the PSAC Tournament Championship match three weeks ago with wins over Cal U and Shepherd in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Clarion ended Gannon's run for the conference title by knocking off the Knights by a 3-0 final to earn the PSAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
In a rare occurrence, none of the NCAA Division II eight regional top seeds reached the Elite Eight. Gannon, Daemen, Tampa, and Western Washington were all number two seeds. Hillsdale, Gannon's opponent in the quarterfinals, was the third seed in the Midwest Regional and defeated Ferris State, 3-1, in the finals. Gannon played Daemen during the regular season, coming away with a 3-1 victory at the Hammermill Center.
 
POSTSEASON AWARDS WATCH
AVCA
Honorable Mention All-America - Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), right-side hitter
Honorable Mention All-America - Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hitter
First team All-Atlantic Region - Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), right-side hitter
First team All-Atlantic Region - Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hitter
Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Region - Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute), middle blocker
 
D2CCA
First team All-Atlantic Region – Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hitter
 
Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team
Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland), setter
Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran), middle blocker
Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), right-side hitter
Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hitter

CoSIDA Academic
First team Academic All-District 2 – Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland), setter
First team Academic All-District 2 – Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hitter
 
PSAC
PSAC West Athlete of the Year – Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hitter
First team All-PSAC West – Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), right-side hitter
First team All-PSAC West – Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), outside hittter
Second team All-PSAC West – Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland), setter
Second team All-PSAC West – Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute), middle blocker
 
A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS
Gannon ranks in the top 30 in NCAA Division II in the following categories:
17th – Match W-L Pct. (.838)
30th – Team aces per set (1.96)
17th – Team digs per set (18.69)
5th – Opponent hitting percentage (0.106)
16th – Team total kills (1,649)
18th – Team total assists (1,504)
7th – Team total digs (2,299)
7th – Team service aces (241)
16th – Team total attacks (4,611)
29th -- Team total blocks (255.0)
22nd – Ashley  Beyers – assists per set (10.73)
27th – Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) – kills per set (3.85)
19th – Lauren  Sampson – points per set (4.57)
10th – Ashley  Beyers – total assists (1,255)
 
GANNON PLACES FOUR ON ALL-ATLANTIC REGIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Four Golden Knights were named to the Atlantic Regional All-Tournament team. Senior outside hitter Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) earned the honor for the third after previously being named in 2018 and 2019. Redshirt senior setter Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) was also named to the 2019 All-Tournament Team, while redshirt senior middle blocker Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) is a two-time honoree after previously being named to the 2018 All-Tournament Team. The fourth Golden Knight was Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), a senior outside hitter who was selected for the first time.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
Gannon head volleyball coach Matt Darling reached 350 wins during his career with the Golden Knights on Friday night with the 3-0 win over West Virginia State. He now stands at 351 career victories.

Gannon libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) has a team-high 519 digs this season for the Golden Knights. The freshman has moved into ninth in program history for single season digs. She needs 17 digs to climb into eighth place (Katie Flower – 535) and 26 digs will place her seventh (Toni Leitshuh – 544).

With her 1,255 assists during her senior season, Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) is currently in sixth place for most assists in a single season at Gannon. Beyers set the single season assists record at Gannon with 1,411 assists as a junior in 2019. A redshirt senior, she can climb as high as second in Tampa. She needs 12 assists to move into fifth place (Jess Deemer - 1,266), 14 for fourth place (Mallory Kam – 1,268), 19 for third place (Megan Wendel - 1,273), and 22 assists will move her past Wendel for second all-time. Wendel had 1,276 assists in 2012.

Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) became the third player this season and 20^th in program history to reach 1,000 career kills. The redshirt senior middle blocker entered Saturday's championship match vs. Wheeling with 995 kills. She added 14 kills to boost her career total to 1,009.  
 
GANNON, HILLSDALE OLD FOES FROM THE GLIAC
The Gannon-Hillsdale rivalry dates back to Gannon's days as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Golden Knights competed in the GLIAC from 1995 to 2007-08 before joining the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the 2008-09 season.
 
SAMPSON NAMED PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR; FOUR GOLDEN KNIGHTS EARN ALL-PSAC ACCOLADES
The 2021 All-PSAC volleyball teams were announced on Thursday, Nov. 18, with four Gannon players earning All-PSAC West accolades. That includes Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson), who was voted the 2021 PSAC West Athlete of the Year. She was joined on the first team by Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), while Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) and Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute) were accorded second team honors. The 2018 PSAC Freshman of the Year, Sampson is the third Golden Knight to earn PSAC Athlete of the Year honors. Hannah Kren was chosen in 2016 and Lauren Sazama in 2012. She is a three-time All-PSAC honoree, as is McClung and Beyers. Greenfield earns the award for the first time.
 
GANNON ENJOYS PLENTY OF SUCCESS WITH DARLING AT THE HELM
The Gannon volleyball program looks very different than it did when Matt Darling arrived as head coach in February of 2007. Darling took over a team that posted single-digit victory totals in consecutive seasons prior to his arrival and engineered a turnaround that includes a run of 13 20-win seasons in the last 14 years, interrupted only by the pandemic a year ago. The shortened season resulted in an 18-4 finish. That 13-year stretch has also included 12 NCAA tournament appearances, plus last year's trip to the AVCA Tournament since the NCAA did not sponsor a championship a year ago. During that period, Gannon made its first-ever NCAA Division II Final Four appearance and is now in the Elite Eight for the third time, made four trips to the Sweet Sixteen, and won two PSAC championships, the first-ever conference championships for Gannon in volleyball. Darling picked up his 350th career win in the Atlantic Regional semifinal win over West Virginia State, and currently owns a 351-135 career mark. He became the program's all-time winningest coach with a victory over Shepherd in the NCAA Atlantic Regional on November 15, 2018. Darling entered the year ranked among the top-25 active winningest coaches at the NCAA Division II level. Gannon reached the 30-win mark for the fifth time under Darling's leadership this past weekend.
 
BEYERS SETS NEW CAREER ASSISTS STANDARD
Redshirt senior Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) broke Gannon's career record for assists on Friday, Nov. 12 and now continues to add to her total. Beyers surpassed the previous career assists mark of 4,244 set by Megan Wendell—which had stood since 2014—by tallying 37 assists in the 3-0 sweep of Slippery Rock. Beyers has since boosted her career total to 4,532 and now has 1,255 assists on the season. She also holds Gannon's season record for assists with 1,411 assists in 2019. Beyers was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week after setting the career mark, the second time this season and the eighth time in her career she has garnered that honor. Beyers also has 1,166 career digs. She ranks fifth in NCAA Division II among active players in career assists, and is fourth in career service aces (163) among active players.
 
SAMPSON, MCCLUNG, KERESTES JOIN 1,000-KILL CLUB
Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) became the 18th Gannon volleyball player to record 1,000 career kills against D'Youville on Sept. 28, 2021. The senior outside hitter has recorded double-digit kills 23 times this season. She has boosted her career total to 1,251 to climb into 11th place in career kills. She needs 20 more kills to move into 10th in program history past Megan Heisler (1,270 -- 2001-04). With 39 kills she can climb into the ninth spot (Morgan Reineke, 1,289 – 2009-12). Senior right-side Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) joined Sampson in the 1,000-kill club on senior day (Nov. 13), becoming the 19th player in Gannon volleyball history to surpass 1,000 career kills. Her total now stands at 1,069 career kills, good for 15th all-time. With three kills she will past Ally Smith (2016-19) to move into 14th place. McClung has reached double-figures in 11 of Gannon's last 13 matches. She has recorded double-digit kills in 16 matches this season. Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) is the most recent member of the 1,000-kill club. The redshirt senior middle blocker became the 20th Golden Knight with 1,000 career kills on Saturday night in the Atlantic Regional final vs. Wheeling. With 14 kills, she now has 1,009 career kills. That ties Dawn Woods (1990-93) for 19th place. She needs seven kills to move into 17th place past Katie O'Connor (1999-02).
 
KERESTES BREAKS CAREER BLOCKS RECORD (RALLY ERA); GREENFIELD CLIMBS INTO TOP 10
In addition to reaching 1,000 career kills, Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) entered the 2021 season with 412 career total blocks, good for second all-time at Gannon. The redshirt senior middle blocker has added 96 blocks to her total this season, boosting her total to 508. That total broke Kara Cullen's previous mark of 463 that was set back in 2011. Kerestes is first in NCAA Division II in active career blocks. In addition, redshirt junior middle blocker Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute) has moved into sixth place in GU history with 267 career blocks.
 
FRESHMAN HALL IN TOP TEN IN SEASON DIGS
Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) is another one of the Golden Knights to climb into the season records books. The freshman libero has a team-high 519 digs in her first season. She has moved into ninth place in program history for single season digs. She needs 17 digs to climb into eighth place (Katie Flower – 535) and 26 digs will place her seventh (Toni Leitshuh – 544).
 
THREE NAMED TO AVCA ALL-REGION TEAM
A trio of Gannon volleyball standouts were named to the 2021 AVCA All-Atlantic Region volleyball team that was released on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Right-side hitter Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) and outside hitter Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) were named to the first team, while middle blocker Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute) was an honorable mention selection. Sampson is now a three-time AVCA All-Region selection, including a first team pick in both 2018 and 2021. She was also the AVCA Freshman of the Year in '18. The Hilliard, Ohio, native is the 2021 PSAC West Athlete of the Year and garnered first team All-PSAC West honors for the second time following the conclusion of the regular season two weeks ago. She was an AVCA honorable mention All-America in 2018. McClung, a 6'1" right-side hitter, earns first team All-Atlantic Region accolades from the AVCA for the second time in her career after also being recognized in 2018. She is also a three-time All-PSAC selection from her middle blocker position. Greenfield, a 5'11" middle blocker, is a first-time AVCA All-Region honoree and was also named second team All-PSAC West two weeks ago.
 
SAMPSON SELECTED TO D2CCA ALL-REGION FIRST TEAM
Gannon volleyball standout Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) earned first team All-Atlantic Region honors from the Division II Conference Commission's Association on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Sampson has now earned all-region accolades three times during her GU volleyball career. She was recognized as an AVCA All-Region selection in both 2018 and 2019, including first team honors in 2018. Sampson is also the 2021 PSAC West Athlete of the Year and garnered first team All-PSAC West honors for the second time. She was also the second team All-PSAC West selection in 2019 and earned PSAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2018. She was also an AVCA honorable mention All-America in 2018.
 
RECAPPING THE ATLANTIC REGIONAL
Down two games to none in their Atlantic Regional quarterfinal against East Stroudsburg, Gannon was on the brink of elimination. Nine games later, the second-seeded Golden Knights were regional champions. After losing the first two games by scores of 25-20 and 25-22, Gannon rallied to dominate the next three sets, prevailing 25-16, 25-7, 15-2. Next up was No. 6 West Virginia State, an upset winner over third-seeded Shepherd the first night. The Golden Knights swept the Yellow Jackets 3-0 by scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-17. That left a rematch of the 2019 Atlantic Regional final between the top seeds on number one seed Wheeling's home court. Just as in 2019 when GU prevailed 3-0, the final was Gannon 3, Wheeling 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-18).

LEADERS-
QUARTERFINALS – No. 2 Gannon 3, No. 7 East Stroudsburg 2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-7, 15-2)
Kills: Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) – 17, Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) – 13, Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) – 13, Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) – 11
Assists: Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) – 53
Digs: Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) – 27, Katie Becht (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) – 13, Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) – 12
Service Aces: Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) – 4
Blocks: Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) – 8, Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) – 5
 
SEMIFINALS – No. 2 Gannon 3, No. 6 West Virginia State 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-17)
Kills: Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) – 19, Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) – 14, Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) -- 14
Assists: Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) – 47
Digs: Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) – 23, Katie Becht (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) – 13, Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) – 10
Service Aces: Katie Becht (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) – 1, Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) -- 1
Blocks: Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) – 4
 
CHAMPIONSHIP – Gannon 3, Wheeling 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-18)
Kills: Lauren Parsons – 19, Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) – 14, Ashley McClung (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) -- 10
Assists: Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) – 44
Digs: Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) – 18, Katie Becht (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) – 9
Service Aces: Ashley Beyers (Lanark, Ill./Eastland) – 1, Kenzie Lasher (Ford City, Pa./Armstrong) – 1, Lauren Sampson (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) -- 1
Blocks: Ashley Kerestes (Loves Park, Ill./Rockford Lutheran) – 5, Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute) – 5
  
GANNON IN THE ELITE EIGHT
The Golden Knights are making their sixth appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Prior to rally scoring, the Golden Knights lost in the quarterfinals in 1991, '92, and '93 with head coach Gerry Burbules at the helm. Gannon returned to the Elite Eight in 2017 under head coach Matt Darling and posted a 3-0 win over Regis to advance to the semifinals. In a tight match, Florida Southern edged the Golden Knights, 3-2. Gannon returned in 2019 and suffered a 3-1 setback to Nebraska-Kearney.

1991 – Quarterfinals – lost to West Texas A&M, 3-0 (16-14, 15-8, 15-4)
1992 – Quarterfinals – lost to Portland State, 3-0 (15-6, 15-5, 15-4)
1993 – Quarterfinals – lost to CSU Bakersfield, 3-0 (15-8, 15-7, 15-6)
2017 – Quarterfinals – def. Regis, 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 25-17)
              Semifinals – lost to Florida Southern, 3-2 (25-16, 15-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-12)
2019 – Quarterfinals – lost to Nebraska-Kearney, 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 17-25, 15-25)
  
ANSEC, SMITH ONLY KNIGHTS TO EARN ELITE EIGHT ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES
Two Gannon players have previously been named to the Elite Eight All-Tournament Team. Kelsey Ansec and Ally Smith were named to the 12-person 2017 team when the Golden Knights reached the semifinals.
 
CAN HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?
The last time the University of Tampa hosted the NCAA Division II Final Four, the Atlantic Regional representative ended up winning the national championship. Wheeling, then know as Wheeling Jesuit, came away with the Division II crown, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic, 3-0, in 2015. That is the only time the Atlantic Regional champion has won the national championship.
 
SCOUTING THE HILLSDALE CHARGERS (30-4)
The Chargers, under long-time head coach Chris Gravel, captured the Midwest Region title with a 3-1 win over top-seeded Ferris State. Hillsdale, the third seed in the regional, enters the Elite Eight as the number four seed with a 30-4 record and is making its second appearance in the Elite Eight. The Chargers previously won the regional crown in 2011 to reach the Elite Eight. They come to Tampa riding a 10-match winning streak after winning the G-MAC Championship then moving on to the Midwest Regional crown. Gravel is in his 26th season as head coach and has dominated play in the G-MAC. A former member of the GLIAC along with Gannon, has won five straight G-MAC titles and has not lost a conference match since 2017. He was named the G-MAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time. The Chargers are led by a trio of AVCA All-Midwest Region performers. Senior middle hitter Allyssa Van Wienen, senior setter Lindsey Mertz, and junior outside hitter Karoline Shelton were accorded All-Region honors. Van Wienen is now a four-time D2CCA All-Region and two-time AVCA All-Region honoree. She was a 2019 All-American to both the AVCA and the D2CCA, as well as a 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-American. She's the only player in Charger history to exceed 1,400 kills and 400 blocks in her career. Mertz is also a heavily decorated player over her career, earning her third D2CCA  All-Region honor, to go with AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year honors in 2017. This season, Mertz has been one of the top setters in the country, with an 11.58 assists per set ratio that leads the G-MAC and ranks fifth in the nation. Mertz has 5,170 assists for her career. Shelton also earned D2CCA second-team All-Region honors for the second consecutive time, and also earned All-Region honors from the AVCA for the first time. She was named the G-MAC Player of the Year in the spring 2021 season. The junior is just the second Charger in school history to surpass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
 
Head Coach: Chris Gravel (554-266, 26th year)
Leading Kills: Karoline Shelton – 393, Allyssa Van Wienen -- 340
Leading Assists: Lindsey Mertz – 1,193
Leading Digs: Alli Wiese – 598, Kroline Shelton -- 490
Leading Blocks: Allyssa Van Wienen – 108, Maizie Brown – 84