INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP women's volleyball team is set to compete in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament for the third straight year, facing Shepherd in the first round on Thursday, December 5.
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(2) IUP vs. (7) Shepherd
Thursday, December 5 – 1:30 p.m. | Hagerty Family Events Center | Erie, Pa. | 2024 NCAA DII Women's Volleyball Tournament
Game Coverage: PSAC Digital Network (Watch Live) | Live Stats | NCAA Bracket
Social Media Updates: @IUPVB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Landing Page: Gannon Athletics 
First Round | IUP vs. Shepherd | Thursday, December 5 – 1:30 p.m. | Ticket Link

• Adults: $10 | Students with I.D. / Senior Citizens: $5 | Children, ages 2-12: $5

2024 NCAA DII Atlantic Region Women's Volleyball Tournament

• Host: Gannon – Hagerty Family Events Center – Erie, Pa.
• First Round – Thursday, December 5
  • 11:00 a.m.: (3) Wheeling vs. (6) Pitt-Johnstown
  • 1:30 p.m.: (2) Indiana (PA) vs. (7) Shepherd
  • 4:30 p.m.: (1) Gannon vs. (8) Shaw
  • 7:00 p.m.: (4) Clarion vs. (5) West Virginia State
• Semifinal Round – Friday, December 6
  • 4:00 p.m.: Winner of 3/6 vs. Winner of 2/7
  • 7:00 p.m.: Winner of 1/8 vs. Winner of 4/5
• Regional Finals (Atlantic Region Championship) – Saturday, December 7
  • 7:00 p.m.: Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2

SERIES HISTORY

• This will be the 14th overall meeting between the two teams and their third matchup this season.
• The Hawks lead the series with eight wins, including four consecutive victories, and five losses, with the most recent loss in 2021.
• IUP last defeated Shepherd in the 2024 PSAC Semifinals in a thrilling five set victory after posting a comeback in sets four and five (19-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-7).
• Earlier this season, IUP faced the Rams at the Crimson Hawk Classic on September 21, defeating them in four sets.

IUP NOTES

• IUP is on its third consecutive 20-win season, currently on a nine game winning streak.
• IUP was recently crowned the 2024 PSAC Champions after a four-set victory over Gannon on November 23. This marked the program's second title, and their first since 2002.
• The Hawks are averaging 12.3 kills, 2.0 blocks, and 2.2 aces per set.
• Jessica Neiman just earned PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year and Second Team honors. Lauren Valentic earned First Team honors for her third consecutive year.
• Five players have surpassed 150 kills this season, with Neiman leading the Hawks with 281 kills.
• Nyla Birch is soon to surpass 200 kills, currently sitting at 199. Valentic (168), Simay Memisoglu (165) and Delaney Concannon (158), round out the top five.
• Valentic has just surpassed 100 total blocks, currently standing at 105 for the season.
• Brown ranks second on the team with 85 total blocks, followed by Neiman with 53.
• Olivia Heidel anchors the setter position, recording 833 assists this season, with an average of 7.57 per set.
• Bailey Flowerdew ranks 33rd nationally with 52 service aces and 94th in aces per set (0.45).
• Flowerdew also just reached 500 digs this season, putting her career total at 1,750, just three digs away from claiming the third spot in program history.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

• This marks IUP's 12th NCAA Tournament bid and their third consecutive appearance.
• Last season, the Hawks reached the Regional Championship but were defeated in three sets by Clarion (24-26, 20-25, 17-25).
• In 2022, IUP made a tournament appearance for the first time since 2017, but was eliminated in the first round by (3) Wheeling in three sets.

SHEPHERD NOTES

• PSAC East Coach of the Year, Alex Hoekstra, guided the Rams to an undefeated 14-0 conference record and an overall record of 24-5.
• Shepherd earned three All-PSAC First Team selections with Joi Fairweather, Rylee Lenz, and Sophia Ryan. Additionally, the Rams had two players, Macy Buso and Harli Zeitz, named to the Second Team.
• Shepherd leads the PSAC East in numerous categories, including points (17.31 per set), team hitting percentage (.231), and blocks (2.59 per set).
• The Rams are ranked sixth nationally in total team blocks (285) and 12th in blocks per set.
• Sophia Ryan ranks second in the PSAC with 148 total blocks, averaging 1.35 per set.
• Both Rylee Lenz (.316) and Sophia Ryan (.282) are among the top 15 in the PSAC for hitting percentage.

HOYER'S THIRD YEAR CHARM

• IUP head coach Lorelle Hoyer and assistant coach Pete Hoyer have rapidly driven the success of the program over the past three seasons. Heading into the tournament, Hoyer boasts an impressive overall record of 66-28 (.702).
• With this season's success, Hoyer has claimed the highest winning percentage in program history 66-28 (.702).
• Hoyer's impact at IUP continues to grow, having led the team to three PSAC Tournament appearances, a 2024 PSAC Championship, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. The best start by any coach in the program's history.

IUP Coaching History – Overall Record (Winning Percentage)
1. Lorelle Hoyer (2022-Present) -- .702 (66-28)
2. Carmine Cortazzo (1998-2005) -- .683 (185-86)
3. Nancy Barthelemny (1979-84) -- .581 (117-84-3)
4. Julie Torbett (2020-21) -- .568 (21-16)
5. Zach Shaver (2006-12) -- .492 (117-121)
 
PSAC Record – Winning Percentage (Regular Season Only)
1. Lorelle Hoyer (2022-Present) -- .674 (31-15)
T2. Julie Torbett (2020-21) -- .500 (8-8); Kim Johnson (1985-92) -- .500 (10-10)
4. Carmine Cortazzo (1998-2005) -- .488 (39-41)
 
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Aces – Career
1. Laura Hall – 261
2. Bailey Flowerdew – 156
3. Alicia Koches – 128
 
Aces/Set – Season
3. Laura Hall – 0.52 (2000)
T4. Tessa Siewert – 0.45 (2007)
T4. Bailey Flowerdew – 0.45 (2024)
 
Aces/Set – Career
4. Alicia Koches – 0.36
5. Emily McCombie – 0.35
T6. Natalie Cignetti – 0.34
T6. Bailey Flowerdew – 0.34
 
Assists – Season
15. Chelsey Kreinbrook – 899 (2010)
16. Lindsay Moeller – 836 (201)
17. Olivia Heidel – 833 (2024)
18. Leah Henderson – 821 (2021)
 
Total Blocks – Career
1. Brittany Gates – 589
2. Karla Raczkowski – 453
3. Tracy Pangallo – 377
4. Lauren Valentic – 371
 
Blocks/Set – Season
6. Brittany Gates – 1.30 (2005)
7. Amy Shoemaker – 1.18 (1999)
8. Lauren Valentic – 1.13 (2024)
9. Tracy Pangallo – 1.09 – (2000)
 
Blocks/Set – Career
1. Amy Shoemaker – 1.25
2. Tracy Pangallo - 1.23    
3. Brittany Gates - 1.20  
4. Lauren Valentic – 1.17
 
Digs – Season
9. Jess Marut – 550 (2015)
10. Jess Marut – 542 (2018)
T11. Emily Pany – 533 (2008)
T11. Jess Marut – 533 (2017)
13. Bailey Flowerdew – 500 (2024)
 
Digs – Career
1. Emily Pany – 2,670
2. Jess Marut – 2,277
3. Sarah Rosenberry – 1,752
4. Bailey Flowerdew – 1,750
5. Krista Nordby – 1,337

Digs/Set – Career
1. Emily Pany - 5.47
2. Jess Marut - 5.12
3. Sarah Rosenberry – 4.39
4. Kelly Barnes - 4.25
5. Bailey Flowerdew – 3.76
 
Hitting Percentage – Career
1. Laura Hall - .384
2. Lacey George - .383
3. Trisha Gerus - .370
4. Tracy Pangallo - .354
5. Brittany Gates - .329
6. Lauren Valentic - .321

Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's volleyball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPVB.