PRINCETON, N.J. -- For the third consecutive season the Yale volleyball team will represent the Ivy League at the NCAA Tournament as champions of the conference. The Bulldogs swept Princeton on Saturday night at Dillon Gymnasium to win their third straight Ivy League Tournament title. The Elis prevailed over the Tigers by scores of 27-25, 25-23, and 25-20.
Yale has now won all three Ivy League Tournaments since the postseason format was brought back in 2022 after a 22 year hiatus. After splitting the regular season series against Princeton and earning a share of the regular season conference crown with the Tigers, the Bulldogs lost out on hosting responsibilities to their Ivy League rivals. After vanquishing Cornell in the semifinals on Friday night, Yale won the conference tournament championship on Princeton's court to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Match summary:
- The Bulldogs won their third consecutive Ivy League Tournament.
- Yale last picked up a win in the NCAA Tournament in 2008.
- Betsy Goodenow was named tournament MVP and had a match-high 14 kills.
- Goodenow led all players in the championship match with 14 kills on a highly-efficient .520 hitting percentage, while also chipping in one service ace, 1.0 blocks, and 3 digs.
- Lauren Kellen and Mila Yarich posted 10 and 9 kills, respectively, for the Bulldogs, combining with Goodenow for 33 of the team's 43 kills.
- Carly Diehl and Lauren Kellen were named to the All-Tournament Team.
- Yale hit .299 for the match compared to Princeton's .190.
- The Bulldogs improved to 19-5 overall heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Up next:
Yale will make its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Bulldogs last competed at the postseason event last season, culminating in a four-set loss in the first round to Penn State. Yale's opponent will be determined during the 2024 NCAA Selection Show on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
