TOURNAMENT HOMEPAGE

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team will head down to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. this weekend for the Empire 8 Conference Championship on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8. Ithaca is the No. 2 seed in this year's postseason tournament and will play Nazareth at 2:30 p.m. on the 7th in Canavan Arena.

Tournament Game Times

Saturday, Nov. 6 – Semifinals
No. 1 Stevens vs. Elmira – 12 p.m. Live Stats | Video
No. 2 Ithaca vs. Nazareth – 2:30 p.m. Live Stats | Video

Sunday, Nov. 7 – Final
Semifinal Winners – 12 p.m. Live Stats | Video

Breaking Down the Championship

No. 1 Stevens Ducks (21-11, 8-0 E8)

For the third year in a row, the Ducks will host the Empire 8 Tournament after posting a perfect record in conference play and are the reigning Empire 8 champions. After a slow start to the year, Stevens has won eight straight matches, including six victories in straight sets.

Stevens will be led on the floor by Empire 8 Player of the Year and Libero of the Year, junior Mary Tobin and sophomore Sydney Horner. Tobin ranks second in the conference with 375 kills and became just the third player in Stevens history to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Horner also reached 1,000 digs in her career with 626 this season to lead the E8. Both were named Rookies of the Year in their freshman seasons.

No. 2 Ithaca Bombers (28-4, 7-1 E8)

The Bombers have won eight of their last nine matches heading into the championship, and held a winning streak of 15 matches in a row earlier this season. Ithaca's only loss in conference came against Stevens on Oct. 10. The 28 victories this season are the most that Ithaca has produced since 2007.

Ithaca has four all-conference performers on this year's roster, including Rookie of the Year and first team honoree, freshman Katie Evans. Evans has been one of the top hitters in all of Division III this season and heads into the championship with the 16th best hitting percentage at .372. Sophomores Joelle Goldstein and Kayla Gromen are also first team members for the Bombers. Goldstein leads Ithaca with 378 points and 326 kills, while Gromen has dished out 1,113 assists to pace the Empire 8. Freshman Amanda Cerruti landed on the honorable mention team after a solid freshman campaign with 162 kills and a .239 hitting percentage.

No. 3 Nazareth Golden Flyers (19-16, 5-3 E8)

The Golden Flyers have played in all but one Empire 8 championship dating back to 2002. Nazareth went 1-2 against the field in the regular season, with its lone win recorded over Elmira on Sept. 26. Stevens swept Naz, while the Bombers prevailed in five sets.

Three Golden Flyers earned all-conference recognition this season – Jennifer Hicks, Cady Messmer and Maureen Thayer. Hicks and Messmer were second teamers, while Thayer was an honorable mention selection and Sportswoman of the Year. Hicks has compiled 277 kills (2.37 per set) on a .211 attack percentage this season and leads the team with 63 blocks. Messmer has registered a conference-high 391 kills to go along with 354 digs. Thayer averages 9.92 assists per set for a total of 1,001.

No. 4 Elmira Soaring Eagles (18-13, 5-3 E8)

The Soaring Eagles edged out Houghton for the final spot in the conference tournament this season with a head-to-head victory over the Highlanders on Oct. 24. Elmira returns to the E8 Championship after missing out last season to snap a string of four straight appearances.

Ashley Heiman and Natalie Schieder earned honorable mention nods this season for Elmira. Heiman posted career-highs with 297 kills, a .182 hitting percentage and 64 digs. She also led the Soaring Eagles with 46 total blocks. Schieder leads the Soaring Eagles with 322 kills and 54 service aces. She is also second on the team with 299 digs and fourth with 20 total blocks.

Team Championships

This year's field has produced a combined 16 Empire 8 titles. Nazareth as won seven championships, including three straight from 2011-13. Stevens and Ithaca both own four crowns – the last for Ithaca came in 2010. Elmira won its only title back in 2000.

Nazareth is 16-6 overall in the playoffs, while Stevens is 10-3 all-time. The Bombers are 9-7 and Elmira is 3-7.