MORRISTOWN, TN – For a time on Friday night, it looked like a Dikembe Mutombo Geico commercial on the court at Z'Buda Gymnasium.

That's because the Walters State volleyball team blocked just about everything that came their way in their Region VII semifinal match against Chattanooga State. Using those blocks to their advantage, Walters State had no problem sweeping the Lady Tigers, 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-22). 

With the win, Walters State advances to the Region VII Championship tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Roane State. Roane State won the early match on Friday over Cleveland State in five sets.

"We have practiced blocking every single day this week," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "That's been our main focus the past week and a half, and they executed everything we have been working on. I am really, really proud of the way they blocked on the net." 

The Lady Senators chose the perfect time to play maybe their best match of the season as they executed to perfection against the Lady Tigers.

For Blaylock, to have that performance come as the postseason has just begun is huge.

"I expected them to step up, but I am not sure I expected them to step up this much," Blaylock said. "I am really proud of them. We challenged them yesterday in practice to work harder then they have and to give more than they have and they stepped up to the plate."

While Walters State got great production from all of their team, sophomore Mercedes Collins was a standout as she had a big performance at the net.

That performance from Collins is something Blaylock has gotten used to seeing as Collins has stepped up over the past few weeks.

"She did great," Blaylock said. "About three weeks ago, everything started clicking for her. She has been working hard, she's being aggressive on the net and she's being a great teammate. I am really proud of Mercedes." 

Walters State came out of the gate firing to begin the match on Friday night as they quickly built up a 15-7 and then 18-8 lead over the Lady Tigers in set one. Lydia Buchanan got things going for the Lady Senators as she had multiple kills to open up the set as well as a block. 

At 20-8, the Lady Senators blocking exhibition was on full display as the Lady Senators blocked shot after shot and finally took a long rally to go up 21-8. While the Lady Tigers tried to climb back into the set, the lead was too much as Collins closed out the set at 25-17 with a kill.

In set two, it was a lot of the same from Walters State as the block party continued, this time from Jordan Moore who had a field day at the net. The Lady Senators began to pull away after a Moore block at 15-9 and from there the lead grew to 22-12 before Walters State closed it out.

Set three was a lot closer as Chattanooga State showed fight in their final set of the season. The Lady Senators never got their lead above two until it was 17-14 after a kill and block from Mattison Rowland. Rowland added another kill at 19-15 before Walters State closed out the match. 

For Walters State, while Friday night's win was sweet, they know that their main goal comes on Saturday when they have a chance to wrap up yet another region championship.

"We just need to focus on the fact that this is season-ending," Blaylock said. "That is the only thing we need to focus on right now. We're going to come in with that in mind tomorrow and try and make sure that this isn't the end of our season."

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics