NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Quarterfinal Match

New Haven vs. Arkansas - Fort Smith
Thursday, Dec. 4 - 7:30 p.m.
Louisville, Ky. - Knights Hall
Game Coverage: Video | Live Stats

New Haven Championship Information Website

Complete Match Notes (PDF)

The University of New Haven women's volleyball team makes the 13th trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship in program history this weekend. The Chargers - the 2014 NCAA Division II East Region Champions - will meet South Central Region Champion Arkansas - Fort Smith in a national quarterfinal on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. EST in Louisville, Ky. at Knights Hall on the campus of Bellarmine University.

The Road to Louisville
The eight teams competing in this weekend's Women's Volleyball Championship each won a regional championship on Saturday, Nov. 22 or Sunday, Nov. 23. The winner of Thursday's New Haven/Arkansas - Fort Smith match will meet the winner of a quarterfinal between nationally-ranked No. 1 Tampa (South) and No. 11 Wheeling Jesuit (Atlantic). The other side of the bracket features No. 12 Wingate (Southeast) against No. 18 Grand Valley State (Midwest) and No. 4 Southwest Minnesota State (Central) meeting Sonoma State (West).

The 2014 New Haven Chargers
The 2014 Northeast-10 Conference Regular Season Co-Champions, the New Haven Chargers enter the Women's Volleyball Championship with a record of 24-8. The Chargers are in the midst of their 13th "Elite Eight" and 29th NCAA postseason appearances in 32 years as an NCAA member institution. New Haven is also amid its 37th 20-win season in the program's 39-year varsity history.

Elite Eight History
2014 marks the Chargers' 13 trip to the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship, dating back to 1984. New Haven last advanced to the national quarterfinals in 2012, falling to then-ranked No. 19 Indianapolis. In their previous 12 appearances in the Elite Eight, the Chargers have fallen to the eventual national champion on eight occasions. This season is New Haven's 29th NCAA postseason appearance overall in 32 years as an NCAA member institution.

2014 NCAA East Region Champions
The Chargers dropped just one set during their run to win the 2014 NCAA Division II East Region Championship. New Haven defeated host Bridgeport 3-1 on Saturday, Nov. 22 to win its second regional championship in the last three years. New Haven also defeated seventh-seed Saint Rose (3-0) and sixth-seed LIU Post (3-0) to claim the regional crown.

East Region All-Championship Team
Kaulana Ane, Kristy Atufunwa, Kristen Lee and Kea-Marie Olaso all earned All-Championship laurels for their performances in the three-round East Region Championship.

Throwback - 2012 East Region Champions
Two years ago the Chargers fought off four match-point chances to upend second-seeded Bridgeport, 3-2, and win the 2012 East Region Championship. New Haven, which was the top seed and host of the East Region Championship, also defeated eighth-seeded Dominican (3-0) and fourth-seeded NYIT (3-2) to claim the regional crown. The Chargers were the only 2012 Elite Eight team to play the highest-possible seed in all three regional rounds. Kaulana Ane, Keidy Candelaria, Amber Cannady, Kristen Lee and Kea-Marie Olaso all earned All-Championship laurels for their performances in the three-round regional tournament.

2014 Award Winners
The regular season and postseason awards the Chargers have earned in 2014 are listed below.
For a more extensive history of New Haven volleyball award winners, see page 7 of the game notes (above).

Kristy Atufunwa
    NCAA Division II East Region All-Championship Team
    AVCA All-East Region
    Daktronics Second Team All-East Region
    First Team All-Northeast-10
    Northeast-10 All-Championship Team
    Northeast-10 Player of the Week (Sept. 30)

Kea-Marie Olaso
    NCAA Division II East Region All-Championship Team
    Daktronics Second Team All-East Region
    Third Team All-Northeast-10
    Two-time Northeast-10 Libero of the Week (Oct. 14, Oct. 28)

Kristen Lee
    NCAA Division II East Region All-Championship Team
    AVCA All-East Region
    Second Team All-Northeast-10
    Northeast-10 Player of the Week (Oct. 14)

Kaulana Ane
    AVCA Honorable Mention All-America
    NCAA Division II East Region All-Championship Team
    AVCA All-East Region
    Second Team All-Northeast-10
    Northeast-10 Setter of the Week (Oct. 7)

Head Coach Robin Salters
    AVCA East Region Coach of the Years