MC Volleyball falls in NCAA Regionals
Photo Courtesy of Beth Murphy
The Maryville College Women’s Volleyball season came to a close on Friday, Nov. 15 after a 3-0 loss to second-seeded Colorado College in the first round of the NCAA Regional Tournament held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Although the first round loss was not an ideal ending to the season, the team had many impressive accomplishments this season that should not be ignored.
After a 2-14 start, the Scots won 22 of their final 24 games to finish the season with a 24-16 mark while also winning the volleyball program’s first USA South Athletic Conference title.
16 of the 22 wins down the stretch came during conference play as the team posted a perfect 16-0 USA South record.
“Any championship is exciting. With that said, this year’s championship is really special. The girls had to overcome many distractions and obstacles to capture this championship,” said head coach Kandis Schram, regarding the championship.
Sophomore Stevie Gleason said she was also proud of the turnaround.
“What stands out to me the most about the season is that we started out in a rough patch, but were able to turn it around to become one of the 64 teams in the national tournament,” Gleason said.
There are many factors that contributed to such a stellar back half of the season.
“One of the things that has made this group so successful is the balance of power,” Schram said. “We have seen great success from not only one or two players, but up to four to five at one time.”
The Scots’ tendency to have a high level of performance throughout the lineup proved vital in their exciting run this season.
“The reason we were so competitive this season is because we were all driven to help each other become better players,” Gleason said. “Everyone has worked hard to bring home the title.”
With the season now concluded the Scots will look to utilize their ability to both work together as a team and overcome adversity moving forward. After an impressive season, fans should have high expectations for the volleyball program in the future.