LAKEWOOD, NJ (Oct. 15, 2024) - Georgian Court Volleyball goes head-to-head with the two finalists from the 2023 CACC Tournament Championship match this week.

Opponents
Jefferson Rams (6-11, 2-3 CACC)
Bridgeport Purple Knights (11-8, 4-2 CACC)

Where
Philadelphia, PA - Gallagher Gym - at Jefferson
Bridgeport, CT - Harvey Hubbell Gym - at Bridgeport

When
Tuesday, Oct. 16 - 7 pm at Jefferson
Thursday, Oct. 18 - 7 pm at Bridgeport

How to Watch
• Both matches are available via a free-to-view broadcast on the CACC Digital Network, powered by HUDL. Live stats for both games are available on the Lions Volleyball schedule page.

Previously vs. Jefferson
• Georgian Court and Jefferson have one of the better rivalries in the CACC. With their win last year, Jefferson now leads the all-time series, 21-20.
• The Rams took the series lead thanks in part to winning each of the last five matches.
• Georgian Court's last win over Jefferson came back in 2021.
• Interestingly, the last 15 matches have seen two Jefferson five-game winning streaks and one GCU five-game winning streak. The last match that wasn't a part of either team's five-game winning streak was way back in 2015.
• The Lions had a 2-1 lead last year in Lakewood, before falling 25-23 in set four and then 15-8 in the fifth. Nylene Mateo totaled 19 kills and Giorgia Cappelletti 16.
• That was just the sixth five-set match in the 41-game series. Georgian Court is 4-2 in five-set matches with the Rams. 

Previously vs. Bridgeport
• This is still a new conference rivalry for the Lions. Bridgeport joined the CACC before the 2022 season and have gone undefeated against the Lions since.
• All-time, Bridgeport leads the series 8-2 and have won seven straight.
• Georgian Court's last win over Bridgeport came in 2008.
• Since Bridgeport joined the CACC, they've defeated the Lions 3-1 in all three matches. That's also been the score in each of the last five matches these teams have played since 2017.
• Bridgeport ended the Lions season last year in the CACC Tournament Quarterfinal. The Lions snuck the third set to avoid being swept, but fell to the Purple Knights in Bridgeport.
• Giorgia Cappelletti recorded at 15-kill, 20-dig double-double. 

Last Time Out
• GCU got back in the win column with a 3-0 sweep of Felician on Saturday.
• It was a competitive matches despite the sweep. Most statistical categories were fairly even.
• Georgian Court hit .288 in the match with just 11 attack errors.
• Nylene Mateo put down 11 kills and four service aces. 

Individual Milestones
• Giorgia Cappelletti needs 17 more digs to get to 500. 
• Carmen Rivera is four assists short of 100. 
• Dayna Diaz is five assists away from reaching 700.
• Amiyah Woods is one block away from 200.
• Martina Croce is five digs away from 200 and one service ace away from 50.
• Five more digs will get Ava Venneri to 200.
• Nylene Mateo needs 10 service aces to get into the Lions all-time top-10.

CACC Leaders (Based on NCAA Stats)
• Giorgia Cappelletti is third in the country and leads the CACC with 0.70 service aces per set. 
• Chelsea Ross is now leading the league with 1.07 blocks per set. 
• Carmen Rivera is in the CACC top-10 for digs per set with 3.36
• Iciar Zayas finally has enough sets played to qualify and her 5.11 assists per set are eighth in the CACC.
• Nylene Mateo's 3.42 points per set is ninth in the conference.
• Georgian Court is second in the CACC with 1.72 blocks per set.
• The Lions 2.13 aces per set is third in the league. 

Who's Hot?
• Chelsea Ross has hit .500 or better in two of her last three matches.  
• Giorgia Cappelletti has at least once service ace in all but two matches this season. 
• Nylene Mateo hit a season-best .381 at Felician. 

About Jefferson
• Jefferson, the preseason favorites in the CACC South Division, are not playing up to their usual standards.
• The Rams are just 6-11 on the year and 2-3 in the league.
• Since Sept. 21, the Rams have alternated wins and losses for six straight matches, failing to get on a winning or losing streak of any kind.
• Jefferson is relying heavily on two offensive stars, Emily McKenna and Morgan Ritchie. Those two each have more than 100 points on the season led by McKenna's 3.64 points per set. 
• The offense runs through Caroline Bond who is passing out nearly eight assists per set.
• Cameron Johnson is among the league leaders with 4.30 digs per set. She also leads Jefferson with 31 service aces.
• The Rams have given up nearly 100 blocks, while putting back just 76 themselves. Liz Tanis has a team-best 29 on the season.

About Bridgeport
• The defending CACC Champion Purple Knights have turned things around in October where they are 3-1 in CACC play. They most recently defeated Holy Family to improve to 11-8 overall and 4-2 in the league.
• Bridgeport has not played much at home this season, just three matches, during which they are 2-1.
• Jaden Drollinger is among the top setters in the league with a CACC best 9.86 assists per set. She also leads the league with 41 service aces.
• Lucia Tomiello is hitting .301 for a Purple Knight team whose .212 hitting percentage is best in the league.
• Paola Hernandez and Hailey Jessen each have more than 200 kills on the season.
• Kenyce Johnson has 3.53 digs per set in just 60 sets played. Grace Presswood is at 2.89 in 72 sets.