LEXINGTON, KY. — The stage is set as the Southern Virginia University Women's Volleyball team will travel to host school, Transylvania University, to take on Carnegie Mellon in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, November 10 at 3 pm, after earning their automatic bid over the weekend.
 
"I, along with the team, feel prepared and ready to go," Head Coach, Debby Baker firmly stated. "We've been to the tournament and now know what to expect. Our team plays well in the type of gym Transylvania has which should help us out."
 
For the second consecutive year, the Southern Virginia University Women's Volleyball team captured the USA South Conference Championship, and punched their ticket back to the National tournament, in a fully packed Knight Arena Saturday afternoon, sweeping William Peace, 3-0.
 
Senior Courtney Pinkston was awarded Tournament MVP, reclaiming her award that she won last year. Joining Pinkston, Emma Steiger, Sydney Hopkin, and Sage Matheny were named as All-Tournament Honorees.
 
The Knights are led offensively by Courtney Pinkston, who enters the game ranked No. 4 in the nation in total kills with 498, and will be flanked by Sydney Hopkin and Brenna Clyde, recording 321 and 299 kills respectively. The big three will be set up by freshman phenom Sage Matheny, who has dished out 835 assists on the year.
 
Defensively, senior Emma Steiger will be the anchor, ranking sixth in the nation in total digs with 637 and tied for 13^th in the nation in total aces with 72. Aiding Steiger, middle blockers Jilane Pedersen leads the team with 94 blocks (33 solo, 61 assisted), followed by Clyde and Hopkin who are combined for 95 total blocks.
 
Carnegie Mellon makes their first appearance to the National Tournament since 2013, as the Tartans finished fourth at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament, falling to No. 6 New York University on Saturday, 3-1, finishing with a 20-8 overall record.
 
The Tartans are led by freshman Elizabeth Schlemmer, tallying 255 kills and 2.38 kills per set. Alongside Schlemmer, junior Laura Reichard sits second on the team with 231 while Jane Dean adds 202.
 
Abby Chen will be looked to in order to keep the ball in the air, leading the team in digs as the defensive specialist with 468, with Reichard adding 436. Dean sits atop the team with 54 blocks and will attempt to stop the Knights' potent offensive unit.
 
If the Knights can serve tough and force the Tartans out of rotation, the team increases their odds of victory. Strong defense behind Steiger, and middle blocker Pedersen and Torbenson will be needed to stop a potent Carnegie Mellon offense.

For the most up to date information regarding Southern Virginia University Women's Volleyball, visit knightathletics.com for live stats and streaming options and follow the team on Instagram @knightwvolleyball and on Twitter @knightwvolley.