Women's Volleyball | 11/29/2022 11:25:00 AM

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Barry University women's volleyball team returns to the national quarterfinals for the first time since winning the title in 2004. The second-seeded Buccaneers draw the seventh-seeded Tritons on University of Missouri-St. Louis at the Royal Brougham Pavilion on the campus of Seattle Pacific University on Thursday, December 1 at 5 p.m. (ET). The Buccaneers and Tritons meet in the second of four quarterfinal matches on the day, and the third meeting all-time (Barry won first two meetings, 3-1 and 3-0, last one coming in 1996).

SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS

The Bucs back in the NCAA quarterfinals, after winning the national championship in 1995, 2001 and 2004. To get to the quarterfinals, Barry knocked off defending national champion Tampa in straight sets. It was the Bucs sixth South Region title, but first since that 2004 national championship run.

Keep an eye on Diana Akopova. The Sunshine State Conference and AVCA South Region player of the year had a monster performance against Tampa with a game-high 30 points. She is also the DII women's volleyball leader in kills per set at 5.65 and points per set at 6.33.

• The Buccaneers finished second in the Sunshine State Conference at 16-4 and were seeded third in the South Regional.
• The Buccaneers extended a streak to 29 years of an SSC team reaching the Elite Eight.
• Barry is 2-2 against nationally ranked teams, with both wins coming against Tampa.
• Barry is 2-0 against the Tritons, although the teams have not met since 1996. The only meeting on neutral ground was that 1996 match, with Barry winning 3-0 in Tampa.

SCOUTING THE TRITONS

The Tritons are one of two newbies to the quarterfinals, making their first trip in program history. UMSL avenged its loss to Ferris State in the second-round last year by coming back from two sets down to win the Midwest Region.

Charlotte Richards is the player to watch here. She won the GLVC player of the year award for the third-straight season. She led the Tritons in points and her 4.73 per set were a top-15 mark in DII. The Tritons as a whole are the third-best hitting percentage team remaining in the field, which is very helpful this time of year.

• Every victory the Tritons had in the tournament so far has been an upset, including a 3-1 victory over No. 1 Quincy.
• The Tritons were the fifth seed in the Midwest Region.
• UMSL hosted the Saint Leo Lions in an opening weekend tournament, beating them in four sets 3-1. 
• Barry is 2-2 all-time against UCM with the last match coming in 2000 when the Bucs came away with a 3-1 victory.