Box Score
In their 10th five-set match of the season, the Lady Bruins overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat #3 seeded Toccoa Falls College 3-2 and capture their 2nd straight NCCAA DII South Region Championship.
"I am incredibly proud of this team," Bruins Head Coach Vickie Denny said. "Toccoa pushed us to our limits. To beat a team three times with each match going five and to have the last one winning regionals made it extra special."
The Bruins had earned the top seed for the regional tournament, and ran through the pool on Friday with back to back sweeps of #5 Johnson University of Florida and #4 Trinity College on Florida. The team then bested #2 Pensacola Christian College 3-0 in the semifinals to reach the region title game. Toccoa Falls College defeated Trinity College of Florida in the semifinal 3-0. The Bruins and Eagles met twice in the 2017 season with the Bruins winning both games 3-2. The Eagles were hoping third time would be the charm as they took the court in front of their hometown crowd.
In the opening set, the Bruins were boosted by Erin Jarvis as the junior came up with several big kills to help the Bruins take the early lead. The Eagles came up with kills of their own as the two teams remained close. Eventually the Bruins were up by a slim margin 22-19. Despite a brief rally by the Eagles, the Bruins were able to take the first set 25-22.
The Bruins continued to ride their momentum in the second set as they came out strong again. Kills by Jarvis and Ring and good defensive play by the Bruins back line allowd them to build an 18-16 advantage. The Bruins kept their rally going as they went up 21-17. After a timeout, the Eagles went on a run to tie the set at 23-23. The two teams went back and forth but the Eagles found holes in the Bruins defense as they won the second set 26-24 to tie the match 1-1.
As the third set began, both teams knew this set would give a big advantage to the winner. The Eagles came out strong from the start as they built a lead behind strong play at the net. After another kill by the Eagles, TFC led 16-10 forcing the bruins to call a timeout. The Bruins were able to make up ground late in the set, but the deficit proved too much to overcome as the Eagles to the third set 25-19 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Bruins knew their hopes of a title would ride on playing well the rest of the way out. Erin Jarvis put the team on her shoulders offensively as she finished the match with 21 kills. Her efforts combined with strong play from Rachel Tubbs and Katherine Ring allowed the Bruins to take a 18-16 lead. The Eagles began to rally, but the Bruins defense came up strong to stop TFC as the Bruins held on to force a fifth and final set with a 25-21 win.
One final set would decide the region champion and it showed as both teams came out strong looking to close out the match. The Bruins serving attack remaining strong as they took an 8-6 lead. The Eagles kept it close as the score continued to reach the end of the match. With the Bruins ahead 14-12, Lauren Mukenschnabl tapped the ball over and the Eagles couldn't return it as the Bruins completed the comeback with a 15-12 victory and a 3-2 match win.
Erin Jarvis had 21 kills in the match while Rachel Tubbs added 12 and Katherine Ring finished with 11. Olivia Vosburgh led the team with 33 assists on the night while Saleena Walker had another strong defensive day with 61 digs. With the win, the Lady Bruins capture their second straight NCCAA DII South Region Championship and sit at 23-13 on the season. The team has now won eleven of their last twelve matches. Final seeding for the national tournament will be decided within the next few days. The tournament will begin November 15 at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.
