Springfield, Mass. - For the first time since 2016, the No. 3 seed Adelphi University volleyball team has advanced to the NE10 Championship final, following Saturday's three-set sweep of No. 7 seed Southern Connecticut State University at AIC's Butova Gymnasium.

Adelphi (21-9) will meet defending NE10 Tournament champion and top-seeded host American International College on Sunday at 3 p.m. The match will air live on NE10NOW.tv.

In the regular season, the Panthers fell in four sets to the Yellow Jackets on Sept. 24. Since that match, Adelphi is 15-1 in its last sixteen contests.

Noelle Alberda put down a match-best 11 kills and committed only one error for a .526 attack clip -- her second-highest attack percentage in a match this season.

The first set appeared to set the tone for the match. With both squads hitting at a similar .245 line, the Panthers and Owls (17-14) needed more than the minimum 25 points to decide a winner.

SCSU battled back from a 23-20 deficit to establish a set-point situation. On a second opportunity, Samantha Meehan got a tip at the net to force extras.

Jamie Yonker did not relinquish the serve. An overpass by the Owls set the stage for Alberda to put Adelphi ahead. With set point, the sophomore went up with Lilyen McCarthy to block the set-winning point.

In a narrow second set, the Panthers trailed 13-12, before an 11-2 run put Adelphi on the doorstep of an NE10 Championship final appearance. McCarthy finished an overpass at the net to seal a 25-20 victory.

With Adelphi a set away, the Brown and Gold saved their best set for last. The Panthers hit at a dazzling .414 clip to complete the three-set sweep of the Owls.

Freshman outside hitter and NE10 Rookie of the Year Macarty McQueen joined Alberda in double figures with 10 kills. Samantha Collins put down six kills and hit .462. Brenna Valsted handed out 33 assists, while Yonker amassed 24 digs.