Posted: Nov 02, 2011
Tournament Webpage
The 2011 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Volleyball Championship Tournament begins Thursday with two quarterfinal games hosted on the campus of Cortland State. The field was set at the conclusion of the regular season with Cortland earning the No. 1 seed in the East Division. Six teams have qualified for the chance to win the postseason conference championship and earn the SUNYAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships.
The 2011 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Volleyball Championship Tournament begins Thursday with two quarterfinal games hosted on the campus of Cortland State. The field was set at the conclusion of the regular season with Cortland earning the No. 1 seed in the East Division. Six teams have qualified for the chance to win the postseason conference championship and earn the SUNYAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships.
Tournament History
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) will employ a six team tournament format for the 23rd straight year. From the 1984 season to 1988 season an eight team tournament was conducted.
*The following facts will be based on the current tournament format years 1989-2011.
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) will employ a six team tournament format for the 23rd straight year. From the 1984 season to 1988 season an eight team tournament was conducted.
*The following facts will be based on the current tournament format years 1989-2011.
All six of the teams that qualified for the 2010 SUNYAC Tournament return again this season. The East Division Seeds remained the same, while Geneseo and Buffalo State swapped positions in the West seeding.
#2 Buffalo State v #3 Oneonta
Oneonta and Buffalo State have only met once in the postseason. It was a quarterfinal match in 1992 with the Red Dragons sweeping the Bengals 3-0.
#2 Buffalo State v #3 Oneonta
Oneonta and Buffalo State have only met once in the postseason. It was a quarterfinal match in 1992 with the Red Dragons sweeping the Bengals 3-0.
Oneonta is making its third straight tournament appearance and 15th since 1989. They have one SUNYAC Championship to their name claiming the 2002 title.
Buffalo State is competing in its second consecutive tournament and ninth overall, having never won the Championship.
The Red Dragons are 9-4 in SUNYAC quarterfinal matches; however their last three quarterfinal appearances have all resulted in a loss (2010, 2009, 2006).
The Bengals have lost their last three tournament matches (quarters 2010, quarters 2002, semis 2001).
From 1989-2010, the Red Dragons have a 13-13 post-season record. The Bengals are 5-9.
#2 New Paltz v #3 Geneseo
Thursday’s quarterfinal will mark the sixth time the two teams have meet in the post-season. The Knights hold a 4-1 advantage. The last meeting between the two teams was in the quarterfinals in 2007 with the Hawks posting a 3-1 win.
New Paltz has advanced to the finals the last three years, winning the championship in 2009.
Geneseo has never won the Championship but has played in the finals three times (1998, 2004, 2006).
The Knights are making their 17th straight tournament appearance, while 2011 marks the Hawks eighth straight.
From 1989-2010, the Hawks have a 9-13 post-season record. Geneseo is 9-17.
#1 West Seed: Fredonia
Top seed in the west for the fifth straight year.
Ninth consecutive appearance in the conference tournament.
Will face the winner of New Paltz/Geneseo. The Blue Devils have never faced the Blue Knights in the post-season, but have met the Hawks seven times (3-4).
The Blue Devils have played in the semifinals eight times posting a 2-6 record. Most recently they have been eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals the past two years.
Fredonia has advanced to the finals twice, winning the Championship in 2008.
Overall they have a 5-14 SUNYAC post-season record since 1989.
#1 East Seed: Cortland
The Red Dragons are the only team to have qualified for the SUNYAC tournament each year.
They are the defending champions and have won 17 SUNYAC titles, including 13 since 1989.
Cortland enters the tournament with a 37-1 overall record this season, ranked #18 in the nation and is one of four teams to have one or fewer losses. They rank second in the nation in win percentage (.974).
Will face the winner of Buffalo State/Oneonta. Cortland is 5-0 against the Bengals in post-season and 3-1 against Oneonta.
1989-2010 Tournament Record: 38-9 overall (20-2 in semifinals and 13-7 in finals).
Schedule of Games
Thursday, November 3
3:00 p.m. – Buffalo State (#2 West) vs. Oneonta (#3 East)
Thursday, November 3
3:00 p.m. – Buffalo State (#2 West) vs. Oneonta (#3 East)
6:00 p.m. - New Paltz (#2 East) vs. Geneseo (#3 West)
Friday, November 4
3:00 p.m. - Cortland vs. Winner of Thursday's 3:00 p.m. match
6:00 p.m. - Fredonia vs. Winner of Thursday's 6:00 p.m. match
Saturday, November 5
2:00 p.m. - Championship match
Friday, November 4
3:00 p.m. - Cortland vs. Winner of Thursday's 3:00 p.m. match
6:00 p.m. - Fredonia vs. Winner of Thursday's 6:00 p.m. match
Saturday, November 5
2:00 p.m. - Championship match
