SJSU Volleyball Earns Postseason Berth, Set To Face UNLV in NCAA Tournament First Round
Spartan Hall of Famer Jolene Shepardson Leading the Way in Historic Season
San Jose State volleyball team's historic season continues as they earn an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2011. The Spartans, under the guidance of first-year head coach Jolene Shepardson, finished the regular season with a 19-9 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Mountain West play.
San Jose State will face UNLV in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, December 2, at 2:00 p.m. PT in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The winner of that match will face No. 10-seed New Mexico on Saturday, December 3.
Shepardson, a two-time All-American and 2018 inductee into the San Jose State Athletics Hall of Fame, has quickly turned around the Spartan program in her first season at the helm. She has implemented an up-tempo offense and aggressive defense that has led to a significant improvement in the team's performance.
The Spartans are led by a talented group of players, including senior outside hitter Haylee Nelson, who leads the team in kills per set with 3.68. Junior middle blocker Latahevai Louani is a force at the net, averaging 1.26 blocks per set. And senior libero Elena Orlando is one of the top defenders in the Mountain West, averaging 4.73 digs per set.
San Jose State is making its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Spartans have a 2-5 record in the tournament, with their last victory coming in 2011 against UC Santa Barbara.
The Spartans are excited to be back in the NCAA Tournament and are confident that they can make a run in this year's event.
