The University of Mary Washington volleyball team will continue its historic season at 9 pm EST on Thursday, as the Eagle face Washington (Mo.) University in the NCAA Division III National Quarterfinals in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Eagles, 31-3, are making their first ever appearance in the national quarters.
UMW becomes the third different Capital Athletic Conference school to advance in the past five years, joining Salisbury (2012) and Christopher Newport (2014).
Mary Washington enters play with a 31-3 record, tying for the best in school history.
The Eagles have won six straight, having won the CAC Championship over Christopher Newport, 3-0, and dropping just one game in their three NCAA Tournament wins over Cabrini, Randolph-Macon, and Juniata.
The Eagles are making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, having advanced in 1990, 1991, and 2015 prior to this year.
Mary Washington has faced three other teams in the final eight this season, having defeated Eastern, 3-1, and fallen to Southwestern, 3-1, and Emory, 3-0.
Senior Emma Olson was named first team All-Region by AVCA, first team All-Capital Athletic Conference, and to the NCAA All-Region team.
Freshman Savannah Powers has been named the CAC Rookie of the Year as well as the AVCA All-North Region Rookie of the Year, and was the Most Outstanding Player at the Fredericksburg Regional.
Head coach Matt Troy has a 93-35 record and two NCAA postseason appearances in four seasons with the Eagles. He owns a 170-56 record overall, including 77 wins and two regional visits with Johns Hopkins University (Md.).