Women's Volleyball

Colby Finishes NESCAC Play Unbeaten to Earn No. 1 Seed in NESCAC Volleyball Championship

HADLEY, Mass. – Colby is the No. 1 seed for the 2024 NESCAC Volleyball Championship. The Mules went 10-0 in conference play and are the top seed for the first time since 2005 and the second time in program history. The Mules’ perfect record marks the 13th time a team has gone unbeaten in NESCAC action since 2000.
 
The 2024 tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Saturday, November 9 at the higher seeds. The four quarterfinal winners will square off in the semifinal round on Friday, November 15 at the highest remaining seed. The championship game is set for Saturday, November 16 at the site of the semifinal host.
 
Tiebreakers
Middlebury, Tufts, and Wesleyan finished with identical records of 7-3. In head-to-head competition, Middlebury went 2-0, Tufts went 1-1, and Wesleyan went 0-2. Middlebury earned the No. 2 seed and Tufts is the No. 3 seed and Wesleyan lands at the No. 4 seed.
 
Trinity, Williams, and Bowdoin finished with identical records of 5-5. In head-to-head competition, the teams went 1-1 against each other. In comparing set records (based on winning percentage) against one another, Trinity went 5-4, Williams went 4-4, and Bowdoin went 4-5. Trinity comes out as the No. 5 seed, Williams is the No. 6 seed, and Bowdoin finishes as the No. 7 seed.
 
No. 1 Colby Mules (22-2, 10-0 NESCAC) vs. No. 8 Conn. College Camels (15-8, 3-7 NESCAC)
  • Colby won its only NESCAC title in 2005, the last time the Mules were the No. 1 seed.
  • The Mules’ 22 wins are the most since the 2005 season and Colby posted an unbeaten NESCAC record for the second time in program history (last: 2005).
  • Colby is making its third consecutive appearance in the NESCAC Tournament.
  • Conn. College qualified for the NESCAC Championship for the third time in four seasons.
  • The Camels are the No. 8 seed for the first time since 2016.
  • Conn. College last reached the semifinals in 2011.
  • The quarterfinal match marks the second meeting between Colby and Conn. College in seven days. The Mules posted a 3-0 victory versus the Camels in the regular season finale on Nov. 2.
  • The NESCAC postseason series stands at 1-1 with the Camels winning the last meeting, 3-1, in the 2012 quarterfinals.
 
No. 2 Middlebury Panthers (13-10, 7-3 NESCAC) vs. No. 7 Bowdoin Polar Bears (13-8, 5-5 NESCAC)
  • Middlebury has qualified for every NESCAC Championship (24 straight) since 1999.
  • The Panthers, who won 11 consecutive matches this season, are the No. 2 seed for the first time since 2016.
  • Middlebury, which owns five NESCAC titles (last: 2016) is seeking its first quarterfinal win since 2019.
  • Bowdoin is in the NESCAC Championship for the 18th consecutive season.
  • The Polar Bears have reached the semifinals two of the last three years and 11 times since 2011.
  • Bowdoin has won four NESCAC titles (last: 2021).
  • Middlebury earned a 3-2 win over Bowdoin on October 11, but the Polar Bears are 4-1 in the NESCAC postseason series. Bowdoin earned a five-set win in the 2017 quarterfinals the last time the teams met in the tournament.
 
No. 3 Tufts Jumbos (13-10, 7-3 NESCAC) vs. No. 6 Williams Ephs (12-10, 5-5 NESCAC)
  • Tufts is in the NESCAC Championship for the 24th consecutive season dating back to 1999.
  • The Jumbos have won three NESCAC titles, their last coming in 2022.
  • Tufts is the No. 3 seed for the first time since 2021 and has reached the semifinals in seven straight tournaments and 16 times since 1999.
  • Williams will play in the NESCAC Championship for the 24th consecutive season since 1999.
  • The Ephs have won 11 NESCAC titles (last: 2014), the most of any school in the conference.
  • Williams, the 2023 NESCAC Runners-Up, is looking to reach the semifinals for the third consecutive tournament.
  • Tufts defeated Williams, 3-1, on October 4, but the Ephs are 7-3 against the Jumbos in the NESCAC Tournament.
  • Williams handed Tufts a 3-0 loss in last year’s semifinals to advance to the final for the first time since 2015.
 
No. 4 Wesleyan Cardinals (13-10, 7-3 NESCAC) vs. No. 5 Trinity (19-5, 5-5 NESCAC)
  • Wesleyan has qualified for the NESCAC Tournament for the eighth season in a row.
  • The Cardinals are the No. 4 seed for the first time in program history.
  • Wesleyan is the defending NESCAC Champion and has played in the last three championship matches.
  • Trinity has qualified for the NESCAC Tournament for the third straight season and the 17th time in program history.
  • The Bantams started the season with a 12-1 record and their 19 wins are the most since 2011.
  • Trinity is seeking its first trip to the semifinals since 2011.
  • Wesleyan posted a 3-0 victory over Trinity on October 4. The quarterfinal match marks the first meeting between the two teams in the NESCAC Tournament.