Women's Volleyball | 11/14/2017 12:12:00 AM

The Shippensburg University volleyball team will be heading to Johnstown for the second time in four days, as the Raiders will return to UPJ on Tuesday night for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal with the Mountain Cats at 7 p.m. from Sports Center.
 
It will be the third meeting of the year between Shippensburg (21-10) and Pitt-Johnstown (23-8), a pair of Central Division rivals. The two teams finished the regular season with the same conference record (13-5) and equal FIVB points (35), but the Mountain Cats will be hosting by virtue of having won one more set than the Raiders in conference matches this season (43-42).
 
This past Saturday, the two teams concluded the regular season in Johnstown, with the Raiders prevailing in five sets by a 15-13 margin in the final frame. On Oct. 20, UPJ handed Shippensburg its first conference loss after nine victories to open the PSAC slate, defeating the Raiders in four sets at Heiges Field House.
 
The two teams have each been among the best in the Atlantic Region over the last five years. Pitt-Johnstown won the 2013 PSAC Championship and played in last year's championship match – it has made the PSAC Semifinals in three of the last four years. Shippensburg won the 2015 PSAC Championship has made the PSAC Semifinals in four of the last five years. Both teams have also made the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four years (2013, 2015, 2016).
 
Shippensburg features junior outside hitter Morgan DeFloria, an All-PSAC performer last year and the 2015 PSAC Championships MVP, along with last year's PSAC Freshman of the Year in sophomore Samantha Webber. Webber is among the Top 10 in the league in hitting percentage (.301) and fifth in total kills (360), while DeFloria is sixth in total kills (357). Freshman Emily Hangen is third in assists per set (10.57).
 
Pitt-Johnstown, in a sharp contrast to the Raiders, features a senior-heavy lineup that boasts multiple four-year starters. Among the dynamic regulars is defensive specialist Devan Orr, the PSAC's all-time leader in digs. Outside hitter Marissa Erminio is among the PSAC's Top 10 this season in total kills (345). Sophomore Caitlin Vrabel, meanwhile, leads the PSAC in hitting percentage (.342).
 
The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal will face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 IUP and No. 8 Edinboro on Friday, with the highest remaining seed serving as the host of the conference semifinals and finals.