Pirates Set to Battle Creighton in BIG EAST Semis

Friday, November 25

Indianapolis, Ind.

12:35 PM

Seton Hall University

#1 Creighton

Seton Hall volleyball team huddles prior to a game during the 2025 season.

Safian, Pirates Fall to No. 12 Creighton, 3-0

Saturday, November 15

Pirates Host Creighton, St. John's in Final Matches

Friday, November 14

The Long Road of Mason Woo: From Hollywood to South Orange

Wednesday, November 12

Pirates Drop Contest at Marquette, 3-0

Sunday, November 09

Next Event

#1 Creighton

L, 0-3

Nov 25 (Fri)

12:35 PM

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Full Schedule

11/23/2016 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016
** BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMIFINAL **
#1 CREIGHTON (24-6, 18-0) vs.
#4 SETON HALL (16-15, 10-8)
Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Ind.
12:35 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | TWITTER

(if the Pirates defeat Creighton)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016
** BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL **
#2 MARQUETTE (24-7, 13-5) or #3 XAVIER (20-12, 13-5) vs.
#4 SETON HALL (17-15, 10-8)
Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Ind.
2:35 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | TWITTER

PREVIEW
Seton Hall has qualified for post-season play for the second time in three seasons. The fourth-seeded Pirates will face top-seeded Creighton in the BIG EAST Championship semifinals on Friday, November 25 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Match time is scheduled for 12:35 pm ET. The game will be shown on the BIG EAST Digital Network via the Fox Sports Go app.

The Pirates clinched a berth in the marquee conference tournament with a three-set victory over St. John's on Saturday, and Villanova's loss at Creighton on Sunday. Junior Dominique Mason registered a match-high 13 kills to go with eight digs. Senior Tessa Fournier had a match-high 22 digs in the victory over the Red Storm. The Pirates finish fourth in the BIG EAST final standings with a 10-8 record.

This will be the first time meeting Creighton in the BIG EAST Championship since falling to the Bluejays in four sets in the title match of the 2014 season. Creighton enters the post-season as one of the hottest teams in the nation, having gone undefeated during the conference schedule with an 18-match win streak. During the streak, the Bluejays have lost just five sets. Their last defeat came at the hands of No. 1 Nebraska in four sets on September 17.

Earlier this season the Pirates were swept twice by Creighton in a span of 12 days in October. In Omaha on Oct. 16, The Hall fell 3-0 (10-25, 15-25, 18-25). Mason led the Pirates with 10 kills. Sophia Coffey had 19 assists and six digs. The Pirates were successful on only .093 of their attacks, while Creighton erupted for a .408 attack percentage. In Walsh Gym on Oct. 28, the Pirates were better, but the result was the same, 3-0 (16-25, 18-25, 12-25). Abby Thelen led the team with eight kills.

Should the Pirates upset Creighton, they'll face the winner of the other semifinal match between No. 2 Marquette and No. 3 Xavier on Saturday at 2:35 pm ET. That match will be televised on Fox Sports 2.

SETON HALL NOTES
PIRATES CLINCH
With Seton Hall's victory over St. John's on Saturday and Villanova's loss at Creighton on Sunday, the Pirates clinched a berth in the 2016 BIG EAST Championship for the second time in three years. Fourth-seeded Seton Hall will face top-seeded Creighton in the first semifinal on Friday, while second-seeded Marquette will play third-seeded Xavier.

LIBERO THREE-PEAT
Senior Tessa Fournier made history by being named BIG EAST Libero of the Year on Wednesday for a third straight season. She becomes only the second player in conference history to win the prestigious defensive honor three times in a career.

ALL-BIG EAST TEAMS
Senior Tessa Fournier was named to the BIG EAST Volleyball All-Conference First Team for a third straight year. Senior Dani Schroeder was named to the Second Team. It's Schroeder's first post-season conference recognition.

SETON HALL SWEEPS ST. JOHN'S
The Pirates received a match-high 13 kills from Dominique Mason and swept St. John's in three sets in the regular season finale on Saturday. Tessa Fournier had a match-high 22 digs. Sophia Coffey had 23 assists and seven digs in the win.

FOURNIER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Tessa Fournier was named BIG EAST Player of the Week in the season's final edition of weekly awards. Fournier was a defensive force in the Pirates' lone match last week. The libero recorded a match-high 22 digs in just three sets in a sweep of St. John's on Saturday.

10 BIG EAST WINS
With a win vs. St. John's on Saturday, the Pirates improved their BIG EAST record to 10-8. It is only the second time in history that they've reached double-figures in wins, and the second time in the last three seasons.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
For a third straight season, Seton Hall exceeded expectations put forth by the BIG EAST Coaches in the preseason poll. In 2014, the Pirates were picked to finish in sixth place, but set numerous program records, and finished second. Last season, The Hall was picked to finish sixth, but just missed the BIG EAST Tournament, finishing fifth. This year, the Pirates were picked seventh, the lowest since the conference was reconfigured, but they placed fourth, qualifying for a tournament berth.

MASON'S DOMINANCE CONTINUES
Junior Dominique Mason is playing her best volleyball down the stretch. The outside hitter has recorded at least 12 kills in each of her last five matches, including a 25-kill outburst at DePaul and a 22-kill effort vs. Georgetown. During that stretch, Seton Hall has won four of five matches.

SCHROEDER'S ACES
Senior Dani Schroeder leads the Pirates with 36 service aces this year and 0.31 aces per set. It's the most aces in a single season for a Pirate since Meghan Matusiak had 36 in 2011. Her 36 aces currently are tied for the second-most in the BIG EAST this season... She has now notched at least two service aces in the last six matches.

BIGGER OFFENSE
Seton Hall's offense took a major step forward in 2016. It's the first time since 2007 that three Pirates averaged more than 2.80 kills per set. Abby Thelen averaged 3.03 kills per set, Dani Schroeder averaged 2.92 kills per set and Dominique Mason checks in at 2.88 kills per set.

SCHROEDER MOVES UP
With 15 kills at DePaul, senior Danielle Schroeder moved past former Pirate Perette Arrington for ninth place on the Seton Hall career kills list. Recently, she also moved into seventh place on the Pirates' career attacks list.

FOURNIER NOTCHES 2,000TH
With 22 digs at Butler, senior Tessa Fournier became only the second player in Seton Hall history to amass 2,000 career digs. Only Alyssa Warren has more career digs with 2,381.