For the first time in program history, the William Smith volleyball team has received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship. The Herons will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to take on New York University in the first round at MIT. The MIT Regional is scheduled for Nov. 21-23 and will welcome Colby, La Verne, Maine Maritime, Messiah, UMass Dartmouth, NYU and William Smith to Rockwell Cage.

First serve between the Herons and the Violets is set for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21. The winner will advance to play the winner of No. 4 MIT and Maine Maritime at 7 p.m. Friday.
 
Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens and students (ages 13-college), children ages 3-12 are $5. Children under 3-years-old are free. All session passes will be sold as well and will be $20 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and students and $8 for children ages 3-12.

William Smith is 22-6 on the season and is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll for the eighth straight week. The Herons received one of 21 at-large bids into the 64-team field after falling to No. 22 Ithaca in the Liberty League title match.

In the program's third varsity season, Head Coach Derryk Williams has guided the Herons to their first 20-win season and their first NCAA tournament bid.

NYU enters the tournament with a 21-12 overall record and is receiving votes in the AVCA poll. The Violets secured an at-large bid after falling to Carnegie Mellon on the second day of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship. NYU is making its 14th NCAA appearance (28-14) and most recently made it to the final four in 2023 before falling to eventual national champion, Juniata. This will be the first meeting between William Smith and NYU.

Additionally, first-year Delainy Williams and junior Malya Sayre were recognized by the Liberty League for their performances in the conference tournament. Williams was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Week for the sixth time this season, while Sayre earned a spot on the weekly honor roll for the second straight week.

Williams was named the conference's rookie of the week after guiding the Herons to the Liberty League title match. Through two matches, she averaged 9.0 assists per set, 1.88 digs per set and 1.13 points per set. In a five-set win over Clarkson, Williams recorded her seventh double-double of the season as she tallied 52 assists and 10 digs. She also added three kills (.429) and two service aces.

Sayre landed on the weekly honor roll after leading the Herons through both matches. She averaged 4.50 kills per set, 2.38 digs per set and 5.25 points per set. In the semifinal win over the Golden Knights, Sayre recorded a career-high 25 kills and 16 digs for her 16th double-double of the season. She added a season-high five service aces in the win.