The No. 10 New York University women's volleyball team hits the road this weekend for Pittsburgh, PA, to compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, hosted by Carnegie Mellon University. 

The Violets enter the tournament ranked No. 1 in the UAA standings and will open play against the University of Rochester at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, looking to capture their first UAA Championship title since 2023.

"The team is super confident this week in practice," said Head Coach Andrew Brown. "That mentality will only translate well into competition and risk-taking."

The Violets finished the regular season 22-5 overall and 7-0 in UAA play. NYU secured two major five-set victories over nationally-ranked opponents, defeating then-No. 8 Washington University in St. Louis on September 27 in Rochester, NY, before taking down then-No. 3 Carnegie Mellon University on October 11 at the John A. Paulson Center. Both opponents remain nationally ranked, with WashU currently ranked No. 1 and Carnegie Mellon No. 6.

The team also reached a milestone on October 25, when Brown and Assistant Coach Rachel Bello earned their 200th victory together with a win over UAA opponent, then-No. 18 University of Chicago.

The tournament marks the final UAA Championship appearance for senior captains Grace Nelson and Coco Barton, along with fellow seniors Alden Roberts, Chloe Lemons, Duru Topcu and Tatum Chase.

The senior class has played a key role in the Violets' success. Nelson ranks second on the team with 190 kills, while Barton leads with 92 blocks and Roberts has recorded a team-high 510 assists.

NYU has also seen standout performances from its underclassmen this season. Sophomore Sienna Morales tied the program record with 13 blocks in a single match, while the freshman class has emerged as season leaders. Lily Leung ranks first on the team with 357 digs, while fellow freshmen Lucianna Welles and Kate Scherlacher top the Violets in kills and service aces, respectively, with 196 kills and 50 aces.

With the UAA Championship ahead, the Violets will look to carry their regular-season momentum into the tournament. Fans can find the full championship bracket and tournament schedule here.