Game #25 - PAC Quarterfinal
Franciscan (12-12 | 8-8 PAC) vs. Thiel (16-8 | 11-5 PAC) 
Tuesday, Nov. 11th | 7:00 p.m.
Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium | Thiel, PA

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The Latest
- Franciscan defeated Waynesburg on Senior Night this past Friday
- The Barons dropped the first set but cruised through the final three 
- They outscored the Yellow Jackets 50-30 in the final two sets
- Logan Hickey led the way with 24 kills and Mary Smart had 38 assists
- The Barons secured the #3 seed in the PAC South and the Tomcats ended as the #2 seed in the PAC North

Scouting the Tomcats
- Thiel comes in having lost four of their last seven games, including a sweep loss to the Barons on October 18th
- They have been dominant at home, with a 7-1 record on Maenpa Court
- Senior outside hitter Daisy Jenness is second in the PAC in kills, trailing only Logan Hickey of Franciscan
- The Tomcats are in the top five in the PAC in nearly every offensive and defensive metric

Matchup History
- The Barons are 2-6 all-time against the Tomcats, but have won two of the last three matchups
- Earlier this season, the Barons won in three sets, with each set coming in dominant fashion
- Logan Hickey led the Barons with 14 kills, and Kaitlan Hickey had 22 digs and four service aces.
- Last season, the Tomcats won in three sets

The Bracket


Tournament History
-This is the ninth conference championship tournament appearance for the Barons over their 18 seasons.
- They made the 2020-21 PAC Championship Tournament, but had that Quarterfinal game go down as a COVID-19 forfeit.
- The Barons are seeking their first postseason win since 2015. In that season, they won three in a row to win back-to-back AMCC Championships.

Record-Breaking Start to a Career
- Hickey has had 20+ kills in twelve matches this season, and she has recorded 16 double-doubles, including her 24 kills and 13 digs at W&J on Tuesday.
- She has accumulated 448 kills and 497.0 points so far this season, both are the most in a season by a Baron all-time. The most kills by a player in a season in PAC history was 528 by Leslie Hoelscher for Thomas More in 2006.
- She leads the PAC in kills per set (4.82) and points per set (5.34). Both marks are among the Top 10 in all of NCAA Division III. Her kills per set mark is currently the second-best among a PAC player all-time if the season ended today. Only Diane Musick of Thiel has had a better mark, which she held a mark of 5.15 in 1986.
- Hickey also leads NCAA Division III in attacks per set at 13.82. It is the second-most across all Divisions, as one Division II player is averaging over 14 per set.
- She is also second on the team with 314 digs, as she became the first Baron with 300+ kills and 300+ digs in a season. 
- Her .953 reception percentage also leads the team amongst players that have received over 100 serves. 

I Dig It
- In her first season as libero, Kaitlan Hickey is making some national noise.
- The sophomore sits in the Top 10 in NCAA Division III in digs per set (5.99). Sierra Ricci of Chatham leads the nation at 7.10 
- Her 4.32 digs per set over her career is fourth-best in program history. It has steadily climbed all season, as she is approaching Nicole Henson '12, who held a 4.46 average as a Baron.
- Her 557 digs this season are currently the 3rd most in a season by a Baron player all-time, passing her former teammate, Sara Morre, who had 555 last season. Sam Kelly holds the record with 623 in 2012.
- She also leads the Barons with 41 service aces. That mark is the fifth-most by a Baron in a season all-time, and it is currently the ninth most by a player in the PAC this season.

Playing Smart
- Mary Smart now has 946 set assists, nearing Becca Haven, who sits fourth all-time with 981.
- In 2025, she has 588 set assists, which are the fifth-most by a Baron in a season. Amy O'Keefe '15 holds the records for 3rd and 4th most in a season. Smart is closing in on her mark of 638 in 2014.
- Her 5.26 set assists per set over her career rank 5th best all-time by a Baron. Sydney Riley sits in fourth with an average of 5.32.

Rising through the Ranks
-Mary Jean Cadman climbed into 6th all-time in kills with 695 and is closing in on 700 in her decorated career. She trails Meg Kay '11 in the program record book, who has 758 kills
- Cadman climbed to 7th in points with 760.5 and now looks to pass a former teammate in Gabrielle Disselkamp, who is sixth with 768.5
- Sarah Clyde has 36 career solo blocks, which is second-most all-time. Anna Cain holds the program record with 97. Her 135 total blocks are tied with Dani Link '15 for the 3rd most all-time. Emily Baznik sits in second with 153.
- Clyde's 0.81 blocks per set over her career is currently 3rd all-time in program history

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