GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- For the third consecutive year, the University of New Hampshire volleyball team will compete in the NCAA Tournament after receiving the conference automatic bid by winning the 2015 America East title. The six-time America East champions visit No. 11 University of Florida on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The game will be available on SEC Network and the WatchESPN app.
America East teams are 1-18 all-time in the NCAA tournament, with the lone victory coming in 2007 when Albany beat Cleveland State in straight sets. The conference won back-to-back CCA/NCAA play-in game in 1996 and 1997.
UNH is looking for its first tournament win, falling in the past two seasons to USC (2013) and Washington (2014). The Wildcats became just the third program in conference history to win three-straight America East titles after beating Albany in straight sets on Nov. 21.
Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest was named the Championships' Most Outstanding Player. She engineered her team-leading 12th double-double, notching 24 kills and 14 digs on the strength of a .327 hitting percentage in the title match. Her 24 terminations were a season-high.
The Gators enter the tournament ranked 11th in the nation and hosting the opening round on their home court. Earning at-large bid out of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Florida compiled a 22-6 overall record and 13-5 in conference play. The last time out, UF swept Long Island University Brooklyn on Nov. 27 at home on Senior Day (25-16, 25-16, 25-19). Florida leads the nation in attack percentage at .317, ranks 19th in opponent hitting efficiency (.160), 20th in kills per set (14.31), 21st in blocks per set (2.79) and 34th in assists per set (13.11).