Tigers Set to Face Top-Seeded AIC in East Region Semifinals

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Springfield, Mass. – After coming back from two sets down to defeat fourth-seeded University of New Haven in the NCAA Division II East Regional quarterfinals, the Holy Family University women's volleyball team will now set its focus of top-seeded American International College with a trip to the regional finals on the line. The fifth-seeded Tigers will face the Yellow Jackets later tonight starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the 2021 East Region Championship will go on sale 60 minutes prior to the first match on each day of the tournament. Adult tickets are $10 and Seniors, Children & Student tickets are $5. Fans that can't make it out to Springfield can catch all the action online by visiting the official East Region Tournament page by clicking, here.

How We Got Here
Holy Family (25-4, 18-0 CACC) knocked off New Haven after dropping the first two sets of the quarterfinal match to win 3-2. It marked the second time in program history that the Tigers have defeated the Chargers in the NCAA Tournament. Holy Family received career performances from fifth-year student Camille Johnson (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) and junior Allyssa Hartney (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley). Johnson totaled a career-high 18 kills, including five in the final set. Hartney recorded 27 kills tying for third most kills in a single match in the program's record book.

Fifth-year Carly Covington (Delmar, Md./Delmar) also finished the night in double-figure kills as she totaled 15 to go along with a match-high 25 digs; one shy of her career-high. Senior Morgan Silks (Norristown, Pa./Archbishop John Carroll) paced the offense with a match-high 53 assists while recording 21 digs on defense.

Scouting AIC
The Yellow Jackets (28-6, 11-2 NE10) are advancing to the semifinals after making quick work of Southern Connecticut State University in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 triumph. AIC, hosting the East Regional for the first time in program history, was led by Paola Soto-Burgos who finished with 14 kills against the Owls. Andrea Serra-Rosa added 11 kills and eight digs, while Amanda Rodriguez led the team with 14 digs. The Yellow Jackets have won 21 straight matches, including 10 home contests in Butova Gymnasium.

All-Time Series
Tonight will mark the eighth meeting between Holy Family and American International since the start of the 2011 season. The Tigers are 3-4 versus the Yellow Jackets in the all-time series. Both teams faced one another in the 2018 East Regional Finals with the Yellow Jackets coming away with a 3-0 victory. In the latest encounter, Holy Family defeated AIC, 3-2, during the 2019 season at the Wilmington University Wildcat Tournament.

Holy Family in the NCAA Tournament
The Tigers are now 4-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and will be appearing in their third regional semifinal. Holy Family is the only Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) women's volleyball program to advance to the East Region semifinals multiple times. The Tigers have now advanced to the round of 32 in each year they have qualified for the NCAA Tournament (2018, 2019, 2021).

What's Next
The winner will be advancing to Saturday's East Region Final and will face the winner of the No. 2 Daemen College/No. 3 Stonehill College.

- HFU -

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Players Mentioned

#6 Carly Covington: OH; 5' 10"; Fifth Year

#7 Allyssa Hartney: OH/RS; 5' 11"; Junior

#10 Camille Johnson: OH/MH; 6' 1"; Fifth Year

#5 Morgan Silks: S; 5' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#6 Carly Covington
: 5' 10"; Fifth Year
: OH

#7 Allyssa Hartney
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH/RS

#10 Camille Johnson
: 6' 1"; Fifth Year
: OH/MH

#5 Morgan Silks
: 5' 6"; Senior
: S