JWU Teams Learn NCAA Tournament Selections
Johnson & Wales University Press Release
Let’s Dance! Women’s Volleyball Draws Maine Maritime to Start NCAA Tournament
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the fifth year in a row, the Johnson & Wales University women’s volleyball team captured the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats start their run on Friday when they take on Maine Maritime Academy at 12:30 p.m. in the Tufts University regional.
The winner of the No. 3-No. 6 match between the Wildcats and Mariners will face the winner of Babson and UMass Boston on Saturday.
The Wildcats come into the NCAA Tournament ranked 21st in the AVCA Coaches Poll with a 27-4 record. JWU has won its last 10 matches, including a 3-0 sweep of Rivier to capture the GNAC title.
This is the third meeting between the Wildcats and Mariners (23-3), but the first in the NCAA Tournament. MMA has been in the JWU-hosted Providence Regional the last two seasons, but the two teams have not squared off. JWU has won both of the regular season match ups, including a 3-0 decision on September 8, 2017.
Johnson & Wales has advanced to the regional final the last two years and took home the title in 2017. Under head coach Nancy Somera, JWU has a 5-4 NCAA record.
Coming into the tournament, the Wildcats rank sixth in the country with a .266 hitting percentage. Senior Kate Walker leads the nation with her .434 rate. Classmate Brylee Frank is 30th in the NCA at 9.93 assists per set.
Dancing Again! Men’s Soccer Gets Back to NCAA Tournament to Face Middlebury
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following a three-year absence, the Johnson & Wales University men’s soccer team earned its way back into the NCAA Tournament. Monday the Wildcats learned they’ll take on Middlebury College in the first round at 3:30 pm on Saturday.
The regional will be hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. The winner of the JWU-Middlebury contest will face the winner of the RPI-Eastern Nazarene game on Sunday.
Saturday will mark the first time the Wildcats and Panthers have met on the pitch. Middlebury received an at-large selection into the tournament following an 8-3-7 campaign.
This will be the fourth appearance for the Wildcats under head coach David Kulik. Johnson & Wales has posted at least 11 wins in all eight seasons under his tutelage.
Overall, Johnson & Wales is playing in the tournament for the eighth time, but is seeking its first win. The Wildcats have come close several times as six of the seven losses have been by one goal. JWU’s last appearance was a 1-0 loss at Lycoming on November 14, 2015.
Johnson & Wales comes into the tournament on a 17-game unbeaten streak. The Wildcats’ 17-2-2 record is tied for the most wins in school history while the .857 winning percentage is the best in program lore.
Stingy defense has always been a hallmark of Kulik’s teams and this year is no different. Johnson & Wales is 21st in the NCAA with 12 shutouts and its 0.685 goals against average is 22nd.
Dance Dance! Women’s Soccer Draws No. 5 MIT to Open NCAA Tournament
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The last time the Johnson & Wales University women’s soccer team was in the NCAA Tournament, most of head coach Chris Flint’s squad hadn’t touch a soccer ball yet. Monday the Wildcats learned they’ll open the NCAA Tournament Saturday at 11 AM against No. 5 MIT.
Johnson & Wales’ last trip to the NCAA Tournament was a 3-0 loss at Tufts on November 12, 2005. The Wildcats went 13-6-1 that year under Jeff Lavinge.
Despite the two schools’ proximity, this will be the first meeting between the Wildcats and Engineers. MIT comes into the NCAA Tournament with a 19-1-2 record after winning the NEWMAC Championship.
Prior to Flint’s arrival in 2015, Johnson & Wales went 10-11-2 and finished sixth in the GNAC. The Wildcats have won at least 12 games in each of Flint’s five seasons, including a 16-6 record this year, and have made two-straight appearances in the conference title game. JWU got over the hump with a 2-1 win against Saint Joseph’s (Me.) on Saturday.
Leading the way for the Wildcats has been 2019 GNAC Offensive Player of the Year Olivia Cairrao. The Bristol, R.I. native is second in school history with 52 goals and 119 points. This season, she’s 18th in the country at 1.13 goals per game.
JWU has been an offensive juggernaut in 2019, ranking sixth in the NCAA with 74 goals. Four Wildcats have found the back of the net five or more times.
