Emmanuel Captures 2023 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship Title
NORTH CHARLESTON S.C.– The third-seeded Lions of Emmanuel captured the 2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Championship title on Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Athletic Center.
Emmanuel defeated fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke, 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21), to capture the program’s third title in the past six seasons (2018, 2019). The Lions earned an automatic bid to the NCAA National Championship and will find out their seed in the Southeast regional during the selection show on Monday, Nov. 20.
The Braves started fast with a 4-0 start and led by as many as six, 16-10, in the opening set. With the Lions trailing, 20-15, Emily Hanson recorded back-to-back kills to spark a 7-0 Emmanuel rally to give them the lead. After UNCP scored twice to knot the set at 22, Emmanuel scored three of the next four points for the opening victory. Set two featured five ties and four lead changes with most coming early in the set. Emmanuel led, 16-13, when Vanja Przulj took over with four consecutive kills to put the Braves ahead and the team never looked back in a 25-22 win.
The Lions dominated the third set as they scored the first five points and nine-of-10 for a commanding lead. UNCP clawed back into the set and survived a pair of set points before a Hanson kill gave the Lions the 25-20 win. In the fourth set, which featured eight ties and two lead changes, UNC Pembroke took the early lead and the teams went back and forth with the Lions not leading until a Layla Bland kill broke a tie at 18. It was part of an 8-3 run over the final 11 points to give the Lions the title.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Gabrielle McGlamery dished out 42 assists and collected 12 digs for the Lions while all-tournament selections Alaina Emminger and Emily Hanson tallied 16 and 14 kills, respectively. Cailin Pritchard was again big at the net with a match-high six blocks. Przulj again had an incredible match for the Braves with 29 kills and 11 digs while Katie Pressley posted 52 assists in the season-ending loss. Both players earned All-Tournament honors.
The complete All-Tournament team is listed below.
Fans can re-watch every match of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network and Hudl TV at conferencecarolinasdn.com. Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket and the North Charleston Athletic Center are available
here.
2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball All-Tournament Team
MVP - Gabrielle McGlamery, Emmanuel
Alaina Emminger, Emmanuel
Emily Hanson, Emmanuel
Katie Pressley, UNC Pembroke
Vanja Przulj, UNC Pembroke
Anna Fiddelke, North Greenville
Morgan Prots, Mount Olive
2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Championship
First Round – Saturday, November 11 & Sunday, November 12 (Nos. 4, 5 & 6 Host)
#7 Converse 3, #12 Belmont Abbey 0 (Box Score)
#11 Barton 3, #8 Young Harris 2 (Box Score)
#10 King 3, #9 Chowan 1 (Box Score)
Second Round - Saturday, November 11 & Sunday, November 12 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#4 UNC Pembroke 3, #10 King 0 (Box Score)
#5 Francis Marion 3, #11 Barton 2 (Box Score)
#6 Lees-McRae 3, #7 Converse 0 (Box Score)
Quarterfinals – Friday, November 17 (North Charleston Athletic Center, North Charleston, S.C.)
#4 UNC Pembroke 3, #5 Francis Marion 1 (Box Score)
#3 Emmanuel 3, #6 Lees-McRae 1 (Box Score)
Semifinals – Saturday, November 18 (North Charleston Athletic Center, North Charleston, S.C.)
#4 UNC Pembroke 3, #1 Mount Olive 2 (Box Score)
#3 Emmanuel 3, #2 North Greenville 1 (Box Score)
Final – Sunday, November 19 (North Charleston Athletic Center, North Charleston, S.C.)
#3 Emmanuel 3, #4 UNC Pembroke 1 (Box Score)