From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's volleyball team is Final Four bound. Competing in the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight for the first time since 2010, the Violets made sure their 2022 journey would continue with a thrilling four-set victory over Transylvania University on Wednesday at the UPMC Cooper Field House in Pittsburgh.
"Hats off to Translyvania. They really pushed us," said Head Coach Andrew Brown. "We definitely had to make a ton of adjustments to stay in it with them."
The first three sets were all settled by two points (25-23, 23-25, 25-23), while a late Violet rally resulted in a 25-21 match clincher.
"The first two games were all about power-hitting and efficiency, and both teams did a good job of capitalizing," Brown explained. "In the third and fourth sets, both teams really locked into defense and it was a battle of grit."
The Violets scored the first two points of the match and went out to a quick 4-1 lead. The Pioneers took their first lead at 7-6, but NYU was able to again grab a three-point lead at 20-17. Transylvania scored the next four points and again took a one-point lead. Trailing 22-21, the Violets rallied for the next three points and held on to their lead down the stretch with Haley Holz's kill clinching the set.
Roles were reversed in the second set as Transylvania scored the first two points. An NYU 8-4 run gave the Violets an early lead, but with the score tied 9-9 the Pioneers scored the next two points and never relinquished the lead. Their advantage grew to as many as seven points. The Pioneers held match point at 24-20 and the Violets rallied within one, but could not notch the equalizer.
NYU raced to a 6-1 lead in the third set. That advantage never got any larger as Transylvania kept pecking away. The Violets led 20-18 when the Pioneers went on a 4-0 run to take their biggest lead of the set. NYU immediately answered with its own 4-0 streak. Transylvania crept back within one, but Olivia Lewandowski's kill ended the set and gave the Violets the 2-1 lead.
The Violets only trailed once in the final set, 10-9, and went on to take an 18-14 lead. But the Pioneers scored the next four points for the final tie of the natch. Leading just 21-20, NYU scored the final four points they needed to get to the Final Four.
Lewandowski, whose kill ended the match had the best game of her NYU career. She totaled career highs of 23 kills and 21 digs, hitting .340 and adding three service aces.
"it was an amazing match. The energy of every single player helped fuel me and my performance," Lewandowski said. "I felt so much support from my teammates. Whenever I went up to hit they were there on the cover. "
Holz finished with 15 kills for the Violets. Lindsay Hirano led with 30 digs, while Ava Launsbach (26) and Dominique Drust (20) each totaled 20+ assists.
The Violets' NCAA Final Four opponent will be Trinity (TX) University, a straight-set winner over MIT on Wednesday. NYU and Trinity met in last year's NCAA Tournament, with the Tigers ousting the Violets in four sets.
NYU has not been back to the Final Four since 2004.
"Since losing to them (Trinity) last year we've grown as a team and become more familiar with each other and our play," Lewandowski added. "I'm so excited to have another match with them."