MORRISTOWN, TN – For the first time in school history, the Walters State Lady Senators are heading to the NJCAA DII National Volleyball Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
On Friday evening in the NJCAA Southeast District B Championship, Walters State overcame a slow start against Fayetteville Tech and did what they have done all season.
Sweep.
The Lady Senators swept Fayetteville Tech 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-17) for their 10th home sweep of the season and advanced to the National Tournament in two weeks. Fittingly, the match ended on a massive kill from the Region Player of the Year, Olivia Oxendine.
"I am pretty speechless right now," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "I knew we were going to come out and play hard, but I didn't really think we would play that hard. I am super impressed by the girls. I am very, very proud of them. They came ready to play. It says a lot about them and what they wanted to accomplish this season. It's just crazy. This is so surreal."
With the win, Walters State improves their overall record to 18-1. The Lady Senators finish their home slate taking 30 of 30 sets on their home court.
The competition rose on Friday night but it did not seem to affect the Lady Senators, something that gives Blaylock confidence as they head into a tournament that features only elite competition.
"I feel great," Blaylock said. "We have zero expectations for the National Tournament, we're just going to go and play the same way we have done all year. We're going to play hard and together, and I think we're going to be successful."
Despite the dominant showing from Walters State, things didn't start off that way as Fayetteville Tech jumped out early in set one and had a 13-6 lead that led to a Lady Senators timeout. However, after the timeout, Walters State looked like a completely different team, scoring seven of the next eight points to make it 14-13. Walters State finally took the lead back at 17-16 and led from there. While the Trojans continued to battle, Walters State would not let up, taking the first set 25-20.
"(During the timeout) We just tried to emphasize to them that this was a season-ending game," Blaylock said. "Either you get out here and get it together or we go home. And they didn't want to go home. We've been trying to emphasize that all year and tonight it really clicked."
If there was ever a set to define the Walters State season, it would be the second set on Friday night.
The Lady Senators came out on fire and after letting the Trojans hang around to start, making it 6-5, Walters State scored 13 of the next 14 points and went up 19-6. From there, the Trojans stood no chance as Walters State took the set 25-12.
"I think emotion is what drove us in the second set," Blaylock said. "We were excited, energetic and were ready to play. Once you get going and get through that first set and get the momentum going, it's really hard for us to shut it off. It just kept on rolling tonight."
Despite that second set though, Fayetteville Tech would not go away, taking an 8-3 lead early in set three and forcing a Walters State timeout. Once again though, the timeout worked and the Lady Senators answered back and eventually took the lead at 14-13. They would never trail again, scoring the final three points of the match to take it home.
UP NEXT:
Walters State will now have a week off as they prepare for the DII National Tournament, April 13-15. While another goal has been checked off for Walters State, Blaylock said that doesn't mean they are done yet.
"I want to say that we'll do something different than we have all season, but we won't," Blaylock said. "I think you keep on keeping on. We're just going to do the same things we have been doing. We're going to practice the same and take it one day at a time and work hard."
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics