Hendrix volleyball captures third straight SAA title
Photo credit: Kara Lee. Courtesy Hendrix Sports Info.
From Hendrix Sports
Cody Usher, Sports Information Director
CONWAY – The Hendrix College volleyball team won the Southern Athletic Association Tournament title for the third consecutive year after sweeping Berry College 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 in Sunday’s finals at Grove Gymnasium
The #25 Warriors (24-7), also the defending three-time SAA regular season champion, will await to see where they will be sent for the NCAA Division III Tournament. The selection show will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at NCAA.com/liveschedule. There will also be a watch party for the selection center in the Hall of Honor Room in the Wellness and Athletics Center.
The top-seeded Warriors hit over .300 in each set. In the first frame, they led 19-18, then ended it on a 6-1 run. The second set was similar with it tied at 18-18, the Orange & Black won seven of the final nine points. The third-seeded Vikings (23-10) got as close as 20-16 in the final set, before Hendrix put the match away 25-20.
For the match, Hendrix hit .317 with 52 kills, six aces, 64 digs and five blocks. Berry hit .184 with 38 kills, five aces, 53 digs and three blocks.
Junior middle blocker Sara Dyslin was named the Tournament MVP. She was also the SAA Player of the Year. Warrior senior setter Allison Gaia and junior right side Bradi Ryan were also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Hendrix Notes
– Dyslin hit .522 with 14 kills, two aces and three blocks.
– Senior outside hitter M.C. Rogers hit .351 with 18 kills and nine digs.
– Ryan connected on seven kills while hitting .375.
– Freshman outside hitter Lauren Dwyer added six kills, two aces and 11 digs.
– Gaia tallied 24 assists and 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the season.
– Sophomore setter Amber Melcher had 22 assists, two aces and nine digs.
– Senior libero Leila Matsumoto came up with 17 digs.
Berry Notes
– Middle blocker Jessica Gum hit .357 with 13 kills, two aces and three blocks.
– Emily Hancock had 11 kills.
– Hannah Kate Thompson tallied 28 assists, six digs and three blocks.
– Elizabeth Ragland added 17 digs.
– Katie Truluck recorded 12 digs.
– Gum and Truluck were named to the All-Tournament Team.