REGIONAL PAGE
INTERACTIVE BRACKET

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein volleyball team will launch the NCAA Division III Championships this coming weekend in the windy city, traveling to take part in an eight-team regional hosted by the University of Chicago inside the Ratner Athletics Center.

The Cardinals (25-6) received an at-large bid from Pool C during the NCAA Selection Show Monday afternoon. They will play in a 4/5 opening-round matchup against Wisconsin-Whitewater on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Otterbein will be making its sixth NCAA appearance this decade and second in the last three years, making the second round back in 2017. The Cardinals finished third in the Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season standings  before flying into the tournament championship contest, dropping a wild five-set thriller at Ohio Northern despite seeing four different match-point opportunities. Otterbein has gone 4-5 against nationally-ranked opponents this fall.

OAC Player of the Year Tate Eppard headlines the show, as the junior middle hitter led the league in both kills (383) and kills per set (3.61). She also ranked fourth in hitting percentage and seventh in total blocking.

Setter Carlie Craycraft, the OAC's Freshman of the Year, ranks second nationally in assists per set (11.48) after taking the reins from day one. She has many capable hitters at her disposal, including second team All-OAC performer Emily Shuk. Libero Ashlyn Leon, the only senior on a rather youthful roster, is a four-year starter with over 2,100 career digs.

Head Coach Monica Wright, 264-151 across 13 seasons for Otterbein, has guided the program to all six of its NCAA appearances. Her Cardinals received votes most of this year in the AVCA National Poll.

UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 23 nationally last week before recently dropping out, currently stands 22-9 overall this year after winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular-season crown. The Warhawks were then upset by UW-Stevens Point in five sets of the tournament final.

As a result, Whitewater also garnered an at-large bid and will be making the program's 31st NCAA appearance. Head Coach Stacy Boudreau, in her 15th year at the helm, currently holds a 434-120 record and won the 2005 national championship. Her Warhawks made the NCAA second round last year.

Whitewater features a balanced offense with four players contributing between 2-3 kills per set, all scattered around the setting duo of KellyAnn Sotiros and Maggie Streckert, which averages just under nine helpers per frame. Libero Morgan Jensen (5.51 digs per set) paces the defense for a Warkhawk roster that is also relatively young, featuring just two seniors and no juniors.

No. 2-ranked Chicago will serve as host all three days, with semifinals scheduled for Saturday afternoon followed by a regional final come Sunday at 2 p.m.

Fans can follow all of the action at the REGIONAL PAGE, which includes links for live stats, live video and press conferences. See below for entire three-day schedule.

Friday, Nov. 15
Match 1: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) vs. Washington-St. Louis, 12:30 p.m.
Match 2: Carthage vs. Grinnell (Iowa), 3 p.m.
Match 3: Otterbein vs. UW-Whitewater, 5:30 p.m.
Match 4: Chicago vs. Westminster (Mo.), 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16
Match 5: Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2, 2:30 p.m.
Match 6: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4, 5 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17
Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6, 2 p.m.