Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (11/2/2023) – With the completion of the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) season schedule, Commission Jessica Huntley is pleased to announce the seeding for the upcoming
2023 AEC Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament. A perfect 5-0 conference mark places Marymount University as the top seed, while Gwynedd Mercy University secured the third seed with a 3-2 league record that included wins over Centenary University (NJ) (W, 3-2 ;19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 15-6 on Oct. 7), Marywood University (W, 3-1; 13-25, 25-17, 25-10, 25-21 on Oct. 11), and Immaculata University (W, 3-0; 25-20, 25-20, 25-9 on Oct. 21).
Between Marymount University and Gwynedd Mercy University, Neumann University stands as the second seed with a 4-1 conference standing. The Saints and Knights receive a bye through the First Round, which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7; the #3 Griffins will host the #6 Mighty Macs at 7:15 p.m., while #4 Marywood University hosts #5 Centenary University (NJ) at 6:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal matches.
Currently 10-13 overall in their first season under first-year Head Coach
Lauren Yancer '21, Gwynedd Mercy University is hosting their first AEC postseason match in program history and their first postseason match of any type since 2006. The Griffins have been led by the scoring play of senior outside hitter
Bria Purnell (Reading, Pa.), senior middle hitter
Ashley Brown (Lansdale, Pa.), and freshman
Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.), as well as the direction of sophomore setter
Ayanna Gaston (Middletown Del.) and the defensive versatility of sophomore right side/libero sophomore
Charlotte Pugh (Philadelphia, Pa.). Purnell (256.5 points), Brown (216.5), and Etter (218.0) all surpassed the 200-point plateau this season with the first scoring 224 kills, the second hitting .326 (161K-32E-396TA) while totaling 48.0 blocks (15 solo, 33 assisted), and the third putting up impressive freshman totals in kills (179), aces (21), digs (181), and blocks (28.0; 8 solo, 20 assisted). Quickly approaching 1,000 career assists, Gaston has recorded 590 assists so far this season; she has also provided 24 kills, a team-high 41 aces, 172 digs, and 27.0 blocks (6 solo, 21 assisted). Meanwhile, Pugh has been invaluable with 39 kills, 35 assists, 16 aces, 263 digs, and 11.0 blocks (1 solo, 10 assisted).
Gwynedd Mercy University and Immaculata University recently met on Saturday, October 21. The Griffins made their move midway through the first set and recovered from an early Mighty Mac advantage in the second set; in both cases Gwynedd Mercy University won by a score of 25-20. The third set was less competitive as a 9-1 Red and Gold start propelled the Griffins to a 25-9 clincher. Purnell (13.5 points; 13 kills, 1 block assist) and Brown (11.0 points; 7 kills, 2 aces, 1 solo block, 2 block assists) combined for 24.5 points, while Gaston was a major contributor with a kill, 26 assists, a block assist, five digs, and six of the Griffins' dozen (12) aces.
The complete field and schedule for the
2023 AEC Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament is provided below.
2023 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Volleyball
Championship Tournament Seeding and Schedule
| RANK.SCHOOL |
AEC |
OVERALL |
| 1. Marymount University |
5-0 |
14-13 |
| 2. Neumann University |
4-1 |
16-7 |
| 3. Gwynedd Mercy University |
3-2 |
10-13 |
| 4. Marywood University |
2-3 |
8-20 |
| 5. Centenary University (NJ) |
1-4 |
10-9 |
| 6. Immaculata University |
0-5 |
12-11 |
FIRST ROUND – TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
#6 Immaculata University @ #3 Gwynedd Mercy University – 7:15 p.m.
#5 Centenary University (NJ) @ #4 Marywood University – 6:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9th
#1 Marymount University vs. lowest remaining seed.
#2 Neumann University vs. second-lowest remaining seed.
CHAMPIONSHIP – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11th
Winners of semifinals @ the highest remaining seed.
