Garden City, N.Y. - Finding themselves trailing in each set, the top-seeded Adelphi University volleyball program dug deep on Tuesday night to secure a spot in Friday's semifinal after taking down no. 8 Pace in three sets inside the Center for Recreation and Sports.

Pace had no problem finding the floor in the opening set, while also taking advantage of Panther miscues to jump out to a 10-4 lead. While slowly chipping away, the home team and higher seed trailed by four, but capitalized on book end errors from the Setters and kills from Samantha Meehan and Noelle Alberda to come within one. Plagued with errors down the stretch and Jaydin Nowak at the service line, Pace let a three-point advantage slip away as Adelphi came back to win the first 25-23.

Much like the first, the hosts trailed, but a kill from Macarty McQueen sparked a run that put the game within reach. Continuing to string together points, Nowak and Jamie Yonker both recorded service aces that gave Adelphi a lead it would not relinquish. Meehan contributed two more tallies to assist in sealing the win to take a 2-0 lead in the match. 

In the team's best offensive set of the night - where they hit .263 as a team - the Panthers managed another 25-23 set victory, coming back from an at-most five point deficit. A kill courtesy of Alberda sent Adelphi on a five point tear to come within one at 21-20. Pace put in another kill to maintain their lead, but Brenna Valsted and Lilyen McCarthy put up a huge stop to earn match point. An unfortunate out-of-bounds swing from the Setter offense put an end to their season and tournament run. 

As the top-seed, Adelphi earns the hosting rights for the semifinal and final rounds of the 2023 NE10 Volleyball tournament. With an upset in Springfield, the Cats will take on no.5 Southern New Hampshire, who defeated no. 4 American International. On the other side of the bracket, both high seeds in no. 2 New Haven and no. 3 Bentley advance to the semifinals and will take on each other. Game times will be posted on aupanthers.com and the championship central page.