Pictured --- Left: Palmer; Right: Karpinski

Avon Lake’s Beth Karpinski, a senior, and Allie Palmer, a sophomore, are part of Case Western Reserve University history.

The pair from Avon Lake are part of the first ever volleyball team to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The tournament begins Friday (Nov. 12) at Frostburg State University (MD) with the Spartans playing against SUNY-Cortland in the opening round.

The Spartans were 24-10 during the regular season and earned the program’s highest UAA Championship finish (fourth) since 2000. Case won 11-straight matches in September and played eight top-25 opponents throughout the season.

Karpinski played in 30 matches (104 sets) and has 215 kills, 19 assists and 34 serving aces. Palmer has played in 30 matches (104 sets) and has 220 kills and 35 assists.

The Case Western Reserve-Cortland winner will face the winner of the Frostburg State vs. Pitt-Bradford match in the regional semifinals on Saturday. Regional finals are set for Sunday with the regional champion advancing to the Elite 8 at Washington University in St. Louis on Nov. 19-21.

swalker@MorningJournal.com