New York University's women's volleyball team will travel to Ithaca, NY, for the opening rounds of the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament with first-round action taking place on Thursday, November 16.

The Violets, ranked seventh in Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), secured their spot in the postseason after winning the 2023 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship tournament this past weekend. It's the second UAA title for Head Coach Andrew Brown's team in the last three seasons, defeating host and fourth-ranked Emory University in five sets in the championship match.

"We're feeling really confident after the types of battles we were in this weekend against really strong opponents in our conference," Brown said after the bracket was announced. "Experience under pressure will always be a valuable asset. But, we know that in the NCAA Tournament teams are equally confident, so just focusing on our side of the net and continuing to get better each day is our plan and our goal."

NYU reached the Final Four of the tournament last season and will take on Eastern Nazarene College in the first round of this year's competition on Thursday, November 16, at 2:00 p.m.

The Violets are 29-4 on the year and have won 13 straight matches entering Thursday's match-up, while Eastern Nazarene comes in with 12 consecutive victories.

"Each year we learn something new that we can utilize to better prepare us," Brown noted. "We channel all of the experience from being on the road last year and the year before in terms of how we can continue to be locked in and focused on the controllables."

As a team, NYU ranks among the top 10 in Division III in blocks per set (second, 2.62), total blocks (fourth, 264.5) and hitting percentage (ninth, .258) while leading the UAA in all three categories.

Lindsey Hirano was just announced as a First Team All-UAA selection while Grace Nelson was selected as the Rookie of the Year as she and Haley Holz landed on the Second Team. Elise Curtin also received an All-UAA Honorable Mention nod.

Hirano currently leads the UAA in total digs (514) and is second in digs per set (5.09). Curtin is fourth in the nation in blocks per set (1.31) and seventh in total blocks (117), while Holz (3.12) and Nelson (3.07) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Association in kills per set.

"It's very exciting that we made the NCAA Tournament," Holz said. "The UAA Championship was so much fun.  All the teams gave us great games, but we were rolling with the punches, we were ready, confident in our abilities and it was great to win that final match in five sets. I think we definitely have more history with the tournament. Last year we became much more comfortable and made the Final Four. The more times we're in the tournament we become more confident and comfortable. Overall, everyone's just excited."

Additional details such as links to live coverage and ticketing information will be published as soon as they become available.