Richmond, IN – Hanover College came into the 2025 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Volleyball Championship as the fourth seed but exited the tournament on Sunday as champions. 

After upsetting the top-seed, and weekend host, Earlham College on Saturday in a five-set battle, the Panthers set out to do the same against returning champion Transylvania on Sunday.  Transylvania came into the Championship match seeking their seventh HCAC title in a row.  Hanover's last HCAC title came eight years ago in 2017, but this year's Panthers simply would not be denied the title.

In the back-and-forth Championship final, Hanover took down the Pioneers in five sets.  Transylvania opened strong, taking the first set 25–20 behind sharp hitting from Isabella Myers (Kevil, KY) and Addie Atcher (Elizabethtown, KY). Hanover answered in the second, with a narrow 25–23 win thanks to clutch kills from Maddie Robertson (Mitchell, IN) and Elliot Mays (Jeffersonville, IN). The third set saw Hanover edge back ahead of the Pioneers, winning the set 25–18 and moving within one set of victory.

Refusing to fold, Transylvania fought back in the fourth. In a tense frame filled with long rallies and defensive stands, they eked out a 25–23 win to force the decisive fifth set. In the final frame, Hanover jumped ahead late and never looked back, closing the match with a 15–11 decisive fifth set led by Robertson and Kelsey Waggoner (Indianapolis, IN) both delivering key points.

Statistically, Transylvania posted 71 kills and hit .221, led by Myers (21 kills, 21 digs) and Atcher (.486 hitting percentage). Setter, and HCAC Player of the Year Macy Lentz (Park Hills, KY) dished out 49 assists for the Pioneers.

Hanover countered with 65 kills and a balanced attack, highlighted by Robertson's 17 kills and five blocks, Mays' .353 hitting efficiency, and 26 assists from Megan Vogel (North Vernon, IN). Hanover had three players with over 20 digs on the day with Madison Schicker (Fishers, IN) leading those with an impressive 26 dig performance.  Hanover also out-served Transylvania with eight aces to five.

The HCAC recognizes an All-Tournament team and a most outstanding player of the tournament.  Hanover's Maddie Robertson was named the tournament's most outstanding player for her efforts throughout the tournament. The other members of the 2025 HCAC Volleyball All-Tournament team include:
 

Name	Institution
Hannah Graves	Mount St. Joseph University
Addison Piatt	Earlham College
Isabella Myers	Transylvania University
Addison Atcher	Transylvania University
Elliot Mays	Hanover College
Kelsey Waggoner	Hanover College
Maddie Robertson – MVP	Hanover College

With the Championship win, Hanover advances to the NCAC Division III Championship as the recipient of the HCAC Automatic Qualification bid.  Transylvania will nervously await the NCAA Volleyball Committee's work to see if they earn an at-large bid to the Tournament.  Both teams will hear their tournament fate during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show scheduled for 1 PM Eastern on Monday, November 17.

Selection show landing page: https://www.ncaa.com/sports/volleyball-women/d3
 
 
For more information on HCAC volleyball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.