Immaculata University vs. Centenary University
Atlantic East Conference Tournament – Semifinals
Thursday, November 12 | 6 p.m.
Alumnae Hall | Immaculata, Pa.
 
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WHAT TO KNOW

• The Immaculata University women's volleyball team returns to Alumnae Hall on Thursday evening to host Centenary University in the Atlantic East Conference Semifinals. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. as the Mighty Macs look to secure a spot in Saturday's Atlantic East Conference Championship.
• Immaculata enters Thursday's postseason matchup as the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 10-16 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Atlantic East Conference play. The Mighty Macs closed the regular season with three straight wins, including a 3-1 win over Centenary on November 4 and a 3-0 win over Saint Elizabeth on November 7.
• The Mighty Macs are making their second Atlantic East Conference Semifinal appearance in program history and their first since the 2025 season, when they advanced to face Marywood. Thursday's contest will also mark the first time Immaculata has hosted an Atlantic East Conference Semifinal.
• Centenary enters Thursday's contest as the No. 3 seed after finishing the regular season with an 11-11 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference play. The Cyclones advanced to the semifinals after defeating Saint Elizabeth in three sets in Tuesday's first-round matchup.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Thursday's meeting marks the 19^th all-time meeting between Immaculata and Centenary in a series that dates back to 2007.
• This is the first time the two schools have met in postseason play.
• Immaculata is 10-8 all-time vs. Centenary.

 
LAST MEETING

• The Mighty Macs and Cyclones last met on November 4 at Alumnae Hall, with Immaculata earning a 3-1 victory by set scores of 19-25, 25-22, 25-13, and 27-25.
• After dropping the opening set, Immaculata responded by winning three consecutive sets to complete the comeback victory.
• Madi Kyle led the Mighty Macs offensively with a season-high 19 kills, while Angelica Santini Bulerin recorded 36 assists and 10 digs for a double-double.
• Adriana Ventura contributed 17 digs to anchor the defensive effort, while the Mighty Macs delivered a strong third-set performance, hitting .375 with 10 kills.

 
MIGHTY MAC NOTES

• Immaculata enters the postseason riding a three-match winning streak after closing out the regular season with victories over Centenary, 3-1, and Saint Elizabeth, 3-0. The Mighty Macs have shown they can compete in tight conference matches and will look to carry that momentum into Thursday's semifinal.
• Madi Kyle has emerged as one of the Mighty Macs' primary offensive weapons during her first season with the program. Kyle has recorded 249 kills this season, including a career-best 19-kill performance against Centenary on November 4. She has consistently provided an offensive spark for Immaculata and will be an important piece of the Mighty Macs' attack.
• Angelica Santini Bulerin continues to direct the Immaculata offense from the setter position. She surpassed the 1,000-career-assist milestone against Centenary on November 4 and currently ranks among the program's all-time leaders. Santini Bulerin recorded 36 assists and 10 digs in the previous meeting with the Cyclones before adding 24 assists in the regular-season finale against Saint Elizabeth.
• Adriana Ventura anchors the Mighty Macs' defensive effort from the libero position. She has recorded more than 330 digs this season and has consistently provided stability in the back row, helping Immaculata extend rallies and transition into offensive opportunities.
• Eliana Szatkowski has been a significant presence at the net for the Mighty Macs, recording 46 total blocks this season. Her ability to disrupt opposing attacks and contribute offensively will be important against a Centenary team that features several capable attackers.
• Immaculata will look to take advantage of its home-court advantage at Alumnae Hall as it pursues its first-ever Atlantic East Conference Championship appearance.
• Tuesday Talk - IU Athletics Podcast Guests: Immaculata women's volleyball members Antonia Antolini and Angelica Santini Bulerin joined this week's episode of the Tuesday Talk – IU Athletics Podcast. The duo discussed what brought the to Immaculata, their experiences here, the team's season, its journey to the Atlantic East Conference Semifinals, and the excitement surrounding the program's postseason run. To listen to the episode, click  on the link below:  

Tuesday Talk - IU Athletic Podcast 

 
SCOUTING CENTENARY

• Centenary enters Thursday's semifinal with an 11-11 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Atlantic East Conference play. The Cyclones earned the No. 3 seed and advanced to the semifinals following a three-set victory over Saint Elizabeth in Tuesday's first-round matchup.
• Poppy Skjonnemand is the primary offensive threat for the Cyclones, leading the team with 239 kills this season. She has also contributed 36 service aces and 166 digs, making her an important contributor on both sides of the ball. Skjonnemand recorded 13 kills in the November 4 meeting with Immaculata.
• Gabriella Miller provides another important offensive option for Centenary, recording 141 kills this season. Miller also contributes defensively with 120 digs and has demonstrated her ability to produce in important conference matchups. She also finished with 13 kills against the Mighty Macs in the previous meeting.
• Adrienne Xiao directs the Cyclones' offensive attack from the setter position, leading the team with more than 450 assists this season. Xiao distributed 30 assists in the November 4 matchup and will be instrumental in creating opportunities for Centenary's attacking options.
• Rey Bennett anchors the defensive effort for the Cyclones, leading the team with 366 digs. Bennett has been a consistent presence in the back row and will be tasked with limiting Immaculata's offensive opportunities and extending rallies.

 
KEYS TO THE MATCH
1. Establish the Offensive Rhythm
Immaculata will need to establish its offensive rhythm early and take advantage of its attacking opportunities. With Kyle leading the way offensively and Santini Bulerin directing the attack, the Mighty Macs will look to distribute the ball effectively and keep the Centenary defense guessing.

2. Win the Battle at the Net
The matchup between Immaculata's front line and Centenary's attacking unit will be an important factor. Szatkowski and the Mighty Macs' defensive front will need to limit Skjonnemand and Miller's opportunities while creating blocking opportunities and forcing the Cyclones into difficult attacking situations.

3. Control the Serve and Receive Game
Both teams have demonstrated the ability to generate points from the service line. Immaculata will need to deliver consistent serves, limit service errors, and maintain strong serve-receive play to allow Santini Bulerin to operate the offense effectively.

4. Capitalize on Home-Court Advantage
With a spot in the Atlantic East Conference Championship on the line, the Mighty Macs will look to feed off the energy inside Alumnae Hall. Playing in front of their home crowd for the first-ever hosted semifinal provides an opportunity for Immaculata to make another important step forward in program history.
 
ATLANTIC EAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

• The 2026 Atlantic East Conference Women's Volleyball Championship included all six teams.
• Immaculata earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye after finishing 5-2 in conference play and winning the head-to-head tiebreaker against Centenary.
• The two semifinal winners will advance to the Atlantic East Conference Championship on Saturday, November 14, with the highest remaining seed serving as host.
• The Atlantic East Conference Champion will earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.
• This is the final season for the Atlantic East Conference, with Immaculata, Centenary, Gwynedd Mercy, and Marymount moving to the United East Conference. Pratt and Saint Elizabeth will join the newly re-minted City College Conference (currently the CUNYAC) in 2027.

 
UP NEXT
With a victory on Thursday evening, Immaculata would advance to the Atlantic East Conference Championship for the first time in program history. The championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at the highest remaining seed, with first serve scheduled for 2 p.m.