WILMINGTON, Del. (Nov. 7, 2026) – The Thomas Jefferson University volleyball team clinched the CACC South Division title Saturday, sweeping Goldey-Beacom College, 3-0 (25-18, 27-25, 27-25), on the road. It wasn't always easy against a game Lightning team, but with the win, Jefferson concludes the regular season 24-6 overall and 13-2 in conference play, securing the division's top seed in the upcoming CACC Tournament.
The Rams also finished the 2026 regular season as the collective CACC leaders in kill per set, digs per set and assists per set.
Junior Liz Tanis (Abington, Pa. / Abington) paced Jefferson with 12 kills on .348 hitting and three blocks, including two solo stops. Junior Pemi Areola (Kingwood, Texas / Kingwood) finished with 10 kills and just one error on 15 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage, while sophomore Gabby Titus (Williamstown, N.J. / Williamstown) added 10 kills. Junior Alexa Mork (West Chester, Pa. / West Chester East / Towson University) contributed a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs, along with two service aces. Senior Emily McKenna (Drexel Hill, Pa. / Sacred Heart Academy) supplied five of Jefferson's 11 aces, adding eight kills and seven digs. The Rams totaled 53 kills, the most by a CACC team in a three-set match this season, and hit .280.
After taking the opener, Jefferson delivered consecutive strong finishes to complete the sweep. Facing set point at 24-25 in the second, the Rams responded with three straight kills from Areola, McKenna and Titus in consecutive order. Jefferson then erased a 17-20 deficit in the third, collecting 20 kills on .378 hitting in the frame. With the score tied at 25, Tanis put away consecutive sets from freshman Lyllah Sapp (Bakersfield, Calif. / Frontier) to finish the match.
Sapp totaled 46 assists and nine digs, while sophomore libero Kate Hines (Newark, Del. / Delaware Military Academy) led the back row with 18 digs and supplied four assists.
As the South Division's top seed, Head Coach Eric Schaefer and the Rams will host North Division fourth seed Post University in the CACC Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at the Gallagher Athletic Cente with the winner advancing to the semifinal round at Holy Family University next weekend.
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