Dalton Christopher
Assistant Athletic Director – Communications & Media
dchristopher@transy.edu

LEXINGTON, KY – Transylvania University has claimed the 2024 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Championship, defeating Manchester and earning an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA National Tournament. 

Cate Scheper led the Pioneers with 19 kills hitting .350, Myers followed with 14 and Holcomb added 11. Addie Atcher added nine kills, hitting .348 Grace Ward recorded 49 assists in the match, adding four kills and 13 digs, she hit .444. Ward was named the HCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament team. Scheper and Myers were also named to the team. 

The Pioneers opened the HCAC Final with a 25-14 win in set one with Maggie Harrison's ace scoring the deciding point. Transy closed the second set with a strong offensive sequence to put the lead out of reach for Manchester. Cecilia Roberts scored an ace to extend the lead to 21-14, followed by a kill from Addie Atcher and Isabella Myers. Kayden Holcomb scored a kill to set up a set deciding ace for Megan Sweeney, with Transy winning set two 25-15. In set four, Transy and Manchester exchanged points with neither team able to extend a lead. The Pioneers utilized a key stretch to put the Spartans away with a block from Scheper finishing a 3-0 scoring run to extend the Pioneer lead 20-15. Ward and Scheper scored consecutive kills to extend the lead 23-18. Scheper and Myers would secure the win with back to back kills to win 25-19, capturing the HCAC Championship. 

"I don't have many words other than just being proud," said Head Coach Amy Barmore. "I am proud of how they showed up as a team. Manchester fought hard and adjusted well. They made us think, but we got back to what we do and just had some fun. We had a bunch of people step up and that was fun to see."
Transylvania has earned an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA National Tournament. Stay tuned to TransySports.com for further updates on the National Tournament. 

For more information about HCAC Volleyball, go to HeartlandConf.org. 

Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at www.transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.