The Aurora University volleyball is set to compete in the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships on Thursday, November 15 with game time starting at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. host time) The Spartans hold a 26-8 record and reached the NCAA field of 64 for the second time in school history as a pool A selection by winning the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference automatic qualifier. AU advanced to the Elite 8 and National Championship weekend with three thrilling victorious to capture the University of Chicago Regional Championship.

Championship Information - 
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Host School: Saint Vincent College
Championship Website - view here
View the complete 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship bracket - click here.
Championship Field: Calvin College, Juniata College, Emory University, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Babson College, Ithaca College, Wesleyan University and Aurora University
- All eight teams in the National Championship are ranked or receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division III Top 25.
Tickets Information: General Admission - Adult - $10.00 / Students & Seniors - $7.00 /  Group (10+) - $5.00
Ticket information can be found at: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/pittsburgh-hosts-ncaa/2018-ncaa-championships/

AU's Match-up -
The Spartans are the eight-seed and will take on the top-seed from Calvin College on Thursday, November 15 at 11:30 a.m. Live stream and live stats are available.
- The Spartans and Calvin played each other on October 20 at the Elmhurst College Invitational with AU falling to the Knights in an exciting five set match, 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 17-25, 15-17)
 
About the Spartans –
- The Spartans hold a 26-8 overall record.
- In their second trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans won the Chicago Regional.
- AU won the 2018 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference regular season and tournament championship.
- AU is 3-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament
- In 2018, AU was 5-6 against their eight opponents who also made the NCAA field of 64.
- Senior Katie Vondra, AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and the 2018 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, leads AU with 461 kills, a 3.94 per set average and a .227 hitting percentage. She also averaged 3.43 digs per set on the defensive side of the net.
- Senior Emily Lines, AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and the Regional MVP, paces the Spartan offense in averaging 11.12 assists which ranks fifth in Division III and and she contributed 3.25 digs per set.
- Sophomore Imani Freeman, Regional All-Tournament Team member, averages 2.95 kills per set and hits .221.
- Sophomore Julia Wood leads the team with 4.72 digs per set.
- The Spartans as a team average 13.69 kills per set along with 12.98 assist per set, which both rank within the top-10 in the nation.

About Calvin College - 
- The Knights hold a 31-1 overall record.
- Calvin is making their 10th overall quarterfinal appearance and seventh in the last nine years.
- The Knights are making their 28th NCAA Tournament appearance and the 15th straight appearance.
- Calvin is led by Anna Kamp who is averaging 4.34 kills per set.
- Setter Sarah DeVries is averaging 5.42 assists per set and leads four setters averaging 4.0 or higher.
- Keilahna Castillo is averaging 3.59 digs per set.
- As a team, Calvin averages 13.35 kills and 12.44 assists per set.

Quick note about rest of the NCAA Championship Opponents –
- No. 1 seed is Calvin College. Ranked 1st in the latest AVCA poll with a 31-1 record.
- No. 2 seed is Juniata College, ranked 6th in the latest AVCA poll with a 27-3 record.
- No. 3 seed is Emory University, ranked 9th in the latest AVCA poll with a 27-6 record.
- No. 4 seed is University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, ranked 14th in the latest AVCA poll with a 32-3 record.
- No. 5 seed is Babson College, receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll with a 26-8 record.
- No. 6 seed is Ithaca College, ranked 25th in the latest AVCA poll with a 21-7 record.
- No. 7 seed is Wesleyan University, receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll with a 20-5 record.
- No. 8 seed is AU, receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll with a 26-8 record

What's Next for AU - 
- With a victory over Calvin, AU would take on the winner of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Babson College match-up on Friday, November 16 with a 4:00 p.m. match start in the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.