Stevenson University’s 15th-ranked women’s volleyball team continued their success with a straight-set win in the Middle Atlantic Commonwealth Conference semifinals on Nov. 1. The team currently holds a record of 31-1 with a 19-match win streak.
“The culture of the team and really being supportive of each other has improved as the season has worn on,” said head coach Dave Trumbo. He believes that the team has been able to be successful this season due to the focus players place on selflessness and support for one another.
Senior Lauren Weaver said that their goals for the season are to “win the MAC championship first and foremost,” and then “to go further than we have in the NCAA [tournament], which for me has only been the second round.” She said that with this team, they would be able to reach those goals because of their unity.
The team’s 15th ranking nationally in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III poll is the highest ever for the Mustangs. They are ranked second by the NCAA for the Mid-Atlantic region.
The team was able to move a step closer to reaching that goal in a match against Lebanon Valley College on Oct. 18. The 3-0 win allowed Stevenson to collect to No. 1 seed for the MAC Commonwealth tournament.
The following day the Mustangs were able to defeat 16th-ranked Johns Hopkins University. This win broke Johns Hopkins’ win streak of 18 matches while extending Stevenson’s own to 13.
On Oct. 21, the team traveled to Rowan University to play against both the home team and Stockton University. The Mustangs defeated Stockton 3-1 and Rowan 3-0. These wins extended the Mustang win streak to 15 games.
Stevenson completed the MAC Commonwealth regular season undefeated on Oct. 24. The team beat Alvernia University 3-0 on Senior Night as Deanna Bradbury, Annika Schwartz, Lauren Weaver, and Megan Hren were recognized before the game.
Franklin & Marshall College was unable to defeat the Mustangs on Oct. 26, as Stevenson won the match 3-0 and kept the win streak alive.
On Oct. 28 Stevenson won its 30th match of the season against Cabrini University. This is the sixth time that the Mustangs have won 30 matches in a season, according to gomustangsports.com. The Mustangs had a win streak of 18 matches going into the MAC Commonwealth semifinals.
Schwartz was named the MAC Commonwealth women’s volleyball Player of the Week for the second straight week for the week beginning Oct. 30, making this her fourth Player of the Week honor this season.
The semifinal, hosted by Stevenson University on Nov. 1 against fifth-seeded Alvernia University gave the Mustangs their 31st win and moved them on to the finals on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. against second-seeded Arcadia University.
If the Mustangs win the MAC final against Arcadia University on Saturday, Nov. 4, the next step will be the NCAA Division III Tournament Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 6 at 12:30 p.m. Students can tune in for the show at NCAA.com. The Mustangs will be listening closely to find out their opponent in their quest to bring home a national championship to Owings Mills.
