Purple Knights Advance To Fourth Straight NCAA Division II East Regional Women's Volleyball Final

West Haven, Conn.-For the fourth straight season, the University of Bridgeport volleyball team has advanced to the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball East Regional Final as the Purple Knights defeated the Adelphi University Panthers, 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 15-12) in a heart-stopping match semifinal hosted by the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn.  The win is UB's fifteenth in a row, and the team moves on to the regional finals with a 27-4 overall mark.  Adelphi closes out its season with a 25-12 overall record.

Sophomore Ying Shen (Nanjing, China) led the Bridgeport offense with 19 kills, and she recorded a double-double with 12 digs.  Shen was joined in double-figure kills by classmate Biljana Savic (Novi Sad, Serbia) with 17.  Savic also recorded a double-double with 10 digs of her own.  Seniors Sabrina Simas (Blumenau, Brazil) and Darsel Springer (Bonair Gardens, Trinidad & Tobago) each had nine kills for the winners.

UB setter Fernanda Silva (Brasilia, Brazil) was the third Bridgeport player with a double-double as she dished out 49 assists and recorded 11 digs.

Senior libero Taylor McBeth (Langley, B.C, Canada) led the Purple Knights' defense with 14 digs, and freshman Martina Santia (Sezze, Italy) had a strong match on defense with 11 digs.

Chelsea Overholt led four Adelphi players in double-digit kills with 17.

Number two seed Bridgeport will play the number one seed and host University of New Haven Chargers in Saturday's regional final for a trip to Pensacola, Florida and a berth in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.  Game time on Saturday is set for 7:00 p.m.