CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle volleyball team will continue their 2023 season next week when they compete in the 2023 NCAA Division II Tournament, with Clarion earning the third seed in the Atlantic Region. They will open the tournament against sixth-seeded West Virginia State on Thursday, November 30 at noon.
 
This year's Atlantic Regional will be hosted by top-seeded Gannon and held at the Hammermill Center in Erie.
 
Unlike some of the other opponents in the regional tournament, the Golden Eagles and Yellow Jackets have not been frequent opponents. The teams have met just four times since 2009, with the most recent match coming a decade ago. Clarion won all four meetings in that time span, with all four coming on neutral floors.
 
The Yellow Jackets enter the tournament with a 26-5 record, including a 14-1 run in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). West Virginia State reached the MEC Championship match in last weekend's conference tournament, losing by a 3-1 score to Wheeling in the final. Clarion, meanwhile, went 25-6 overall, with a 13-3 record in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action. The Golden Eagles were also conference tournament finalists, falling to champion Gannon in five sets on Saturday night.