For the first time in 33 years, the William Paterson women’s volleyball team has claimed the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title and secured an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
This is William Paterson’s fourth overall conference title and first since 1991. After falling to Stockton University 3-1 in the championship match last year, the Pioneers completed their revenge tour, sweeping the Ospreys in a decided 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 26-24) contest.
William Paterson (22-9, 7-1 NJAC) opened the initial set with a dominant five-point lead (22-17) after a kill by sophomore All-NJAC Second Team honoree Abby Houpt. However, Stockton (22-8, 6-2 NJAC) would respond to even the contest 23-23 with a 6-1 run. It would be back-to-back kills from sophomore Kristian Glenn that would determine the set in the Pioneer’s favor, 25-23.
Trailing in the second set 8-5, William Paterson would rally to claim a 16-11 lead after an 11-3 run. Despite both teams claiming the lead throughout the remainder of the set, it would be graduate student, and All-NJAC First Team winner, Hope-Arce Reed’s kill that would secure a second set victory.
In the final set of the match, it would come down to the final moments for the Pioneers. After holding the Ospreys at match point (24-21), Stockton would tally three straight points to even the contest. Freshman Makayda Aldrich’s timely 12th kill of the evening and a service ace would clinch the title for William Paterson.
William Paterson dominated over Stockton in kills, 50-38. However, both teams would be even in aces 4-4, and the Pioneers would again hold a lead in blocks, 9-6.
Coming into the season initially ranked third, the Pioneers would only drop one regular season conference contest to Rowan University to secure the first seed in the playoff tournament.
While William Paterson has won the conference title before, this will be the Pioneers’ first berth into the NCAA Tournament due to the fact that the conference champion was not offered an automatic bid at the time of William Paterson’s other conference championships. After the selection show, the Pioneers were selected to make their first appearance against regional host Christopher Newport University on Nov. 21.
