WAYNE, N.J. – The fifth-seeded William Paterson volleyball team (20-11, 5-3 NJAC) heads to Glassboro, N.J., Thursday, Nov. 12, to take on top-seeded Rowan (26-3, 8-0 NJAC) in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament semifinals slated for 7:00 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

• Tickets can be purchased in advance HERE
• Ticket prices are $11.00 for adults; $6.00 for seniors (65+), children (2-12) and students, which includes a $1.00 fee
• No cash ticket sales will take place at any NJAC Tournament venue. Patrons will have the opportunity to purchase electronic tickets on-site via a mobile device, but only if tickets remain available at the attempted time of purchase.

HOW TO CATCH THE ACTION

• Live statistics, live video and live audio coverage will be available.

 
WHERE

• Esbjornson Gymnasium; Glassboro, N.J.

 
WHAT'S AT STAKE

• The winner of the matchup between William Paterson and Rowan will advance to the championship match Saturday, Nov. 14, against the winner of the other semifinal round match between second-seeded Stockton and third-seeded Kean. The highest remaining seed will host the championship game at a time to be determined. The NJAC Tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 
   

WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT

• The Pioneers are making their 22nd NJAC Tournament appearance and are seeking their fifth tournament title (1982, 1983, 1991, 2024).

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

• After finishing with a 19-11 overall record and 5-3 mark in conference play during the regular season, the Pioneers went into the NJAC Tournament as the fifth seed and knocked off fourth-seeded Montclair State, 3-1, on the road Nov. 10.
• Senior Cecilia Miller (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial), a first-team all-conference selection, logged a 10-kill performance in the tournament win over the Red Hawks. She has registered 209 kills (3.27 kills/set) and 198 digs (3.09 digs/set) with seven double-doubles in her 19 appearances this season.
• Junior Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) became the second Pioneer in program history to be named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. She logged a match-high 28 digs against Montclair State and sits on top of the NJAC rankings in digs per set (5.43) and is tied for first in digs (576). She has tallied double-digit digs in 29 of 31 matches.
• In her rookie campaign, freshman setter Sara Rogers (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek) leads the Pioneers in assists (646), assists per set (6.04), aces (49) and aces per set (0.46). She dished out a team-high 20 assists to go with six digs and four aces opposite the Red Hawks.
• Junior Makayda Aldrich (Robbinsdale, Minn./Brooklyn Center) was named to the All-NJAC Honorable Mention and leads the Pioneers in blocks (60) and ranks second in kills (211).

SCOUTING THE PROFS

• No. RV Rowan went 26-3 overall and posted its first undefeated conference campaign since 2022 after playing to an 8-0 mark to claim the top seed in the NJAC Tournament.
• The Profs have cruised to 24 wins in their last 25 outings and have not suffered a home loss since the season opener against Franklin & Marshall on Sept. 1.
• Sophomore Jessica Smart, who was one of two Profs named to the All-NJAC First Team, leads Rowan with 351 kills and 3.82 kills per set to go with 77 digs and 29 blocks. She ranks second in the conference in kills and kill per set.
• Sophomore setter Raven Albrecht was selected to the All-NJAC Second Team and is first in the conference in assists per set (9.50), aces (69), aces per set (0.70) and second in assists (931).
• Senior Abby Chadwick has recorded 281 kills (2.96 kills/set), 190 digs, 50 blocks and 44 aces en route to being an all-conference first-team honoree.

 
EARLIER THIS SEASON

• The Pioneers were bested 3-0 (16-25, 22-25, 18-25) on the road in their meeting with Rowan on Sept. 29.
• Aldrich paced the Pioneers with eight kills while Miller chipped in with seven kills and 10 digs.

 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS

• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia