Lancaster, Pa. – (11/9/2026) – With the results of Saturday's regular season finales in the books, Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Commissioner Rebecca Mullin officially released the seeding and competition schedule for the 2026 AEC Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament. A 2-5 league record earned Gwynedd Mercy University the #5 seed in the postseason bracket, which aligns them for a First Round contest at #4 Pratt Institute on Tuesday, November 10 (7:00 p.m.).
 
Opposite the Griffins and Cannoneers, #3 Centenary University (N.J.) hosts #6 Saint Elizabeth University for a 7:00 p.m. First Round contest. Following the conclusion of those contests, the lowest remaining seed will visit #1 Marymount University for an AEC Semifinal on Thursday, November 12 (7:00 p.m.); meanwhile, the higher remaining seed travels to #2 Immaculata University for a 6:00 p.m. semifinal. The 2026 AEC Women's Volleyball Championship is scheduled to take place at the home of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 14 (TBA).

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
Gwynedd Mercy University and Pratt Institute met twice this season with the Griffins getting revenge on a 3-0 (26-24, 25-12, 25-17 on Oct. 17) home loss with a 3-2 (6-24, 16-25, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13) road win in their regular season finale.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University welcomed Pratt Institute to the Griffin Complex for their Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Opener and Senior Day match. The Red and Gold opened the match with a 5-1 lead, but the rest of it went in the Cannoneers' favor as they edged out the Griffins 26-24 in the first set, dominated the second set, 25-12, and sealed with a 25-17 score in the third set. Senior pin hitter Kate Etter (Chambersburg, Pa.), freshman pin hitter Carley Leonard (Upper Chichester, Pa.), and freshman pin hitter Cameron Hnat (Pottstown, Pa.) each recorded five kills; the first scored two aces to lead Gwynedd Mercy University with 7.0 points. Gwynedd Mercy University hit .160 (10K-6E-25TA) in the first set; the Griffin led as late as 17-16 and tied as late as 18-18.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University got revenge in their regular season finale at Pratt Institute as the Griffins took the first (26-24), third (25-18), and fifth (15-13) sets in a 3-2 (26-24, 16-25, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13) marathon match. Etter led the Red and Gold with 12.5 points (11 kills, a block assist, and a solo block) and 15 digs; her first kill was the 1,000th of her collegiate career. Hnat offered a season's best 11.0 points (10 kills, 2 block assists), while sophomore setter showed her versatility with six kills, 19 assists, two aces, two block assists, and 12 digs.
 
In the opening set, Gwynedd Mercy University took an early 7-3 lead before a Pratt Institute rally tied the set at 23-23. Following a briefly 24-23 deficit, a Hnat kill, a shared block between Crooks and Hastings, and a Cannoneer attack error left the Griffins on top; 26-24. The third set started in similar fashion as the Red and Gold found an 8-4 lead and later extended it to 16-8 prior to the 25-18 conclusion. Contrastingly, the Gwynedd Mercy University trailed in the fifth set 7-1 and used a 14-6 run to capture the league victory. The Griffins hit .194 (46K-21E-129TA) for the match with .200-plus efforts in the first (.276; 12K-4E-29TA) and third (.267; 12K-4E-30TA) sets.
 
Etter (25 matches played – 25 matches started) has led the charge Gwynedd Mercy University as she earned AEC Women's Volleyball Player of the Week honors for September 7 and made Weekly Honor Roll appearances on September 14, 21, 28 as well as October 5, 12, 19, and November 2. She surpassed 1,000 kills (Nov. 7), 100 aces (Sept. 26), and 1,000 points (Sept. 19) during the course of the season and she currently leads the team in points (244.0) and kills (209) while also recording nine assists, 22 aces, 198 digs, five solo blocks, and 16 block assists.
 
Leonard (25mp-25ms) has been Etter's best complement at the net with 145.0 points (138 kills, 1 solo block, 12 block assists) and 27 digs. Hastings (25mp-25ms) has also been a major contributor to the Red and Gold's production with 140.5 points (104 kills, 13 aces, 8 solo blocks, 31 block assists); she leads the team with 39 total blocks (8 solo blocks, 31 block assists) and she recorded the 100^th block of her collegiate career at Wilkes University (Sept. 30).
 
The Gwynedd Mercy University offense has been run through a sophomore setter duo of Macie Ferla (Mickleton, N.J.) (25mp-24ms) and Brynn Crooks (Philadelphia, Pa.) (25mp-1ms). The former has provided 327 assists, while additionally providing the Red and Gold with six kills, a team-high 36 aces, and 132 digs; she was named the AEC Weekly Honor Roll on September 21 and 28, October 5 and 19, and November 2. Meanwhile, the latter has paired 200 assists with 12 kills, 26 aces, and three block assists.
 
Sophomore defensive specialist P.J. Mendoza (Kennett Square, Pa.) (25mp-0ms) served as the Red and Gold's primary libero and currently leads the team with 222 digs. She was named to the AEC Weekly Honor Roll on September 7 and 14.

2026 AEC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING & TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
 

FINAL STANDINGS	AEC RECORD
#1 Marymount University	6-1
#2 Immaculata University	5-2
#3 Centenary University (N.J.)	5-2
#4 Pratt Institute	3-4
#5 Gwynedd Mercy University	2-5
#6 Saint Elizabeth University	0-7

FIRST ROUND: Tuesday, November 10th
#6 Saint Elizabeth University @ #3 Centenary University (N.J.), 7:00 p.m.
#5 Gwynedd Mercy University @ #4 Pratt Institute, 7:00 p.m.
 
SEMIFINALS: Thursday, November 12th
Lowest remaining seed @ #1 Marymount University, 7:00 p.m.
Higher remaining seed  @ #2 Immaculata University, 6:00 p.m.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, November 14th
Semifinal winners @ the home of the highest remaining seed.