Familiar Faces Round out Final Four of the PSUAC Volleyball Championship
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 2022 PSUAC Volleyball Playoff tournament began last Wednesday and will conclude this Tuesday, November 1st in the hallowed halls of Rec Hall on the Penn State University Park campus. Eight teams have been cut to four after a tough quarterfinal round that saw Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Schuylkill, Penn State Fayette and Penn State Beaver eliminated from championship contention.
We now move into our Final Four volleyball teams, and they are the top four seeds in the tournament. East no. 1 seed Penn State York, as well as their counterparts in the West, Penn State Mont Alto, lead the charge with undefeated conference records. Chasing them will be East no. 2 Penn State Brandywine and last year's champion, Penn State Greater Allegheny.
After a dominant stretch of volleyball by Penn State Fayette since 2005, Greater Allegheny stopped the trend and took home the title last year with a win over Schuylkill. They look to repeat, but will have to take down York in the first semifinal to do so. York has never won a PSUAC Volleyball crown, and Mont Alto has not won since 2003 despite having three titles to their name. Other than Greater Allegheny, Brandywine has had the most recent success, bringing the trophy back after the 2015 and 2017 seasons.
The semifinal round will begin on Monday, October 31st at Rec Hall at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1st at Rec Hall. Games will be streamed live on the PSU Campus Athletics Network at the link below, or the app!
Championship Page
Watch Live
Semifinal #1
East #1 Seed Penn State York (20-5 overall, 12-0 PSUAC) vs. West #2 Seed Penn State Greater Allegheny (19-7 overall, 10-2 PSUAC)
Monday, October 31st, 5 p.m.
York has been a solid program since gaining their footing several years ago after a period of challenges. They've trended upwards every year since 2017, and earned their second straight top seed in the East. Head Coach Keith Hartman's squad looks to rebound from a tough semifinal loss in last year's tournament to this same Greater Allegheny program. That win for Alyssa Finocchi's team propelled them to the title, a first for Greater Allegheny. These teams did meet once this season in the PSUAC Volleyball Crossover event, with York the victors in a straight set win. But that match was at York, and the neutral site could present a more even playing feel for the defending champs. York is led by East Player of the Year Jess Dunbar, while Greater Allegheny is solid with three First Team All-Conference selections in Alix Ellis, Hannah Kessler and Alexa Martell.
Penn State Greater Allegheny Lineup
Semifinal #2
East #2 Seed Penn State Brandywine (13-9 overall, 9-3 PSUAC) vs. West #1 Seed Penn State Mont Alto (20-6 overall, 12-0 PSUAC)
Monday, October 31st, 7 p.m.
Brandywine rebounded from an early upset last season to get back to Rec Hall this year, and will be rewarded with a match against Mont Alto. Perhaps the most dominant team so far this season in the PSUAC, Mont Alto will attempt to make the championship game after a disappointing finish in the PSUAC tournament last year. Despite finishing as the USCAA National Championship runners-up, Mont Alto was knocked out by Schuylkill in the PSUAC Semifinals last season and didn't get a chance to play for the Lion statue. They look to change that this year, and have already knocked off Brandywine in straight sets in the crossover. Brandywine will look to PSUAC First Team All-Conference stars Suzie Alvarenga, Laura Jezyk and Anna Ramirez to propel them past the Western champs, but will have to work through Mont Alto's top players in Kylie Denlinger and Kylee Gooding to do so.
CHAMPIONSHIP FAN INFORMATION (REC HALL)
UPDATED 10/31/2022*
- Masking for spectators is optional.
- Doors will open one hour prior to the first scheduled match of the evening. Fans should enter Rec Hall at the main entrance near the corner of Burrowes Rd. and Curtin Rd (center doors at top of steps)
- ADA accessible doors are available on the North side of Rec Hall (closest to the Nittany Lion statue)
- Parking is available in the Nittany Parking Deck, which is located adjacent to the Nittany Lion Inn on Fischer Rd., approximately 100 yards from Rec Hall.
- Concessions will be available in Rec Hall. No outside food or drink is permitted.*
- Penn State's bag policy will be in full effect on Tuesday, Nov. 1st.* Please review the bag policy here: BAG POLICY
- Fans will be restricted to the upper level of Rec Hall (and the base of the stairs for vending machines). Access to the main floor will only be granted to participants and staff.
- Championship Parking