FORT SMITH – UAFS had won eight matches in a row going into Saturday’s Heartland Conference Tournament title match, and the Lady Lions volleyball team seemed destined to win an unprecedented sixth tournament title.
St. Mary’s ruined those plans.
The No. 2 seed Rattlers held the explosive offense of the Lady Lions in check and matched their defensive intensity, too, on their way to a sweep of the top-seeded Lady Lions at the Stubblefield Center.
St. Mary’s (18-11) won the match 25-21, 29-27, 25-23 and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
It was only the second conference tournament loss for the Lady Lions in their seven conference tournament appearances. UAFS lost to Dallas Baptist in five sets in the 2013 title match.
UAFS (26-6), which won the conference regular-season title for the sixth-consecutive time, still has some hope of earning a spot in the eight-team South Central Region of the National Tournament, though. The Lady Lions were ranked No. 7 in the recent NCAA Division II South Central Region Poll and possibly could earn one of the five at-large bids to the eight-team tournament.
The Lady Lions, who have made three-consecutive national tournament appearances and five overall, will learn their fate during the NCAA Division II selection show that will be broadcast on NCAA.com on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s held UAFS to just a 0.109 hitting percentage with 41 kills on 165 attempts with 23 errors. Sophomore outside hitter Anna Demmer and senior outside hitter Pulotu Manoa had 13 and 11 kills, respectively. The duo also served both of the Lady Lions’ aces.
Senior setter Susannah Kelley had a team-high 33 assists.
The Rattlers collected 88 digs, and junior libero Monica Ramon led the team with 32 digs. She was one of four players with double-digit digs. St. Mary’s had seven total team blocks with junior middle Jaycie Pluenneke collect three block assists.
UAFS’ defense wasn’t too shabby, either.
The Lady Lions held the Rattlers to just a 0.146 hitting percentage with 47 kills on 158 attempts with 24 errors. Junior outside hitter Channing Hawkins had 13 kills, while Pluenneke and senior opposite hitter Tarine Grace had 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
Sophomore setter Bree Perry had a team-high 37 assists and served two of the Rattlers’ three aces.
UAFS collected 79 digs with junior libero Autumn Reese accounting for 28 digs. The Lady Lions had nine total team blocks with junior middle hitter Debra Rogers collecting one solo block and three block assists.
ALL-HEARTLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kelsie French, Lubbock Christian
Katie Martin, St. Edward’s
Autumn Reese, UAFS
Susannah Kelley, UAFS
Bree Perry, St. Mary’s
Channing Hankins, St. Mary’s
MVP
Monica Ramon, St. Mary’s
