The Bruins are back on top of the South region as the team swept #3 seeded Pensacola Christian College on Saturday to capture the NCCAA DII South Region Championship. The Bruins were able to avenge last season's region championship loss to PCC as the team won in straight sets. With the win, the Bruins will represent the South at the NCCAA DII National Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida.
"Our team came ready to compete today," Bruins Head Volleyball Coach Vickie Denny said. "From the very beginning of the match you could see how well the team was playing as a unit. I am extremely proud of this team. With all the challenges we have faced this season, they have persevered. "
The Bruins came into the match on the heels of sweeping #4 Johnson University (FL) on Friday in the region semifinal. The team had been on a mission all season long to win the South after losing the region title for the first time in program history last season.
The Bruins knew they would be in for a tough test as they faced the Eagles who had upset #2 seeded Toccoa Falls College in the semifinal. The next chapter of this rivalry was set to be written but this time it would be for the region title as both teams took the court.
In the opening set, the Bruins and Eagles went back and forth with the score remaining close. The Bruins got back to back kills from Timbre Cruz as they took a slight 8-7 lead.
Later on in the set, the Bruins went on a run as they got kills from Kiersten and Katherine Hoopes and an ace from Timbre Cruz to take a 17-11 lead. The Eagles narrowed the gap, but the Bruins were able to take set one as Katherine Hoopes made the kill to win the set 25-18.
In the second set, the two teams went back and forth before the Bruins scored four-straight points thanks to a kill from Emma Riddle and an ace from Eden Swihart as the team led 8-4. The Bruins continued to distance their lead as another run near the midway point of the set gave the team an 18-8 advantage.
Much like the first set, the Bruins did a great job of keeping the pressure on and not allowing the Eagles to claw their way back into the set. As a result, the Bruins took a 2-0 lead in the match after winning set two 25-16.
The Bruins were just one set away from a region title and the team came out looking to finish the match. The Eagles kept pace in the third set as the score remained within a point or two of one another. The Bruins then went on a 9-1 run thanks to kills from Emma Riddle, Faith Blalock and Kyra Rickard as the team stormed ahead to lead 22-12.
The Eagles tried to mount one last rally, but the Bruins wouldn't be denied their chance at payback as the team finished off PCC in set three 25-13 to win the South Region Championship with a 3-0 sweep.
"This is such a special group," Coach Denny said. "I have been blessed by them in so many ways this season and while other teams would have folded with the challenges we faced this season, they kept working hard and it paid off with a region championship."
Katherine Hoopes led the Bruins with 15 kills in the match while Timbre Cruz had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. With the win, the Bruins capture their sixth NCCAA DII South Region Championship in program history.
Next up, the Bruins will compete in the NCCAA DII National Tournament November 16-18 in Kissimmee, Florida. The Bruins will await final seeding for the tournament which will be decided next week by the championship committee.
