For the eighth time in the last nine years, Eastern University Volleyball will host the DeSales University Bulldogs in the MAC Freedom Championship match. In 2010, the Bulldogs played here in the MAC Freedom Semifinals.

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The History:
Eastern has won all-nine post-season contests between the two teams since 2008. DeSales (then Allentown College) beat Eastern in the 1996 PAC Championship by a 3-2 score. The Bulldogs won the MAC Freedom Championship in 2007 in the year before Eastern joined the conference. That year is the only year since 1996 that Eastern did not win a Conference Championship.

Eastern won the regular season meeting at DeSales in late Sept. Michelle Paulsen had seven blocks and Rylie Haas and Miranda Kauffman each had 16 digs as the Eagles held the Bulldogs to a .040 hitting percentage in the three-set win. DeSales scored 20 points in the first and third sets. The Bulldogs are the only Freedom Conference team to take a set off the Eagles since Eastern joined the league. They took the third set, 26-24, in 2014.

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The Teams:
DeSales (23-12, 6-1 MAC Freedom)

The Bulldogs had four players named to the MAC Freedom All-Conference team. Libero Natalie Gray, setter Lisa Wallitsch, outside hitter Gabby Savité, and middle hitter Morghan Shoemaker were all first-team honorees.

DeSales hits .199 as a team overall and .215 in league matches. Opposing teams hit .148 overall and .110 in MAC Freedom contests. Shoemaker hits .322 in league matches.

The Bulldogs have won six straight matches including a five-set win over a Stockton University.

Eastern(28-5, 7-0 MAC Freedom)

The Eagles have dominated MAC Freedom Competition this fall. Stephanie Elechko, the 2016 MAC Freedom Player of the Year has hit .413 in league matches, and the Eagles have hit .352 as a team. League opponents hit -.035. The Eagles are nationally ranked in both blocks per match and opponent's hitting percentage.

Alicia Weigel joined Elechko on the first team. Haas, Paulsen, and Morgan Kline earned spots on the second team. Kline and Shoemaker shared Rookie of the Year honors.

Sarah Roberts and Morgan Shemonski both hit over .300 in MAC Freedom matches this fall.

Eastern has won seven matches in a row including a five-set win over No. 7 Emory.

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What is at Stake?

The winner of the match will earn the MAC Freedom's Automatic Qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Coverage
Video
Live Stats

Tickets
As a MAC Championship Event, admission will be charged.
Tickets are
$5 for Adults
$4 for Seniors
$2 for Students w/out eCards
Eastern University Student Development will pay for tickets for all current Eastern University Students with eCards.