After winning the Mid-Atlantic District title over Butler County Community College on Nov. 2, Sandhills Community College volleyball competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national tournament last week.
Sandhills CC earned the fourth seed in the bracket and fell in the second round to No. 5 Century, 3-0, Thursday. The Flyers went on to beat No. 8 Owens, 4-1, in a consolation match Friday, but they lost to No. 10 Dallas North Lake, 3-2, in the fifth place match Saturday to end its season with its best ever finish in nationals (sixth) and the most ever wins in a single season (37-7 overall record).
“This year on July 31, the team sat down and put on paper goals they wanted to achieve this season,” Sandhills CC coach Alicia Riggan said. “They wanted to win region, win the region tournament, host and win districts and get an automatic bid to nationals. That didn’t stop there. They wanted to not just go, but compete. We did just that.”
The Flyers defeated No. 13 Rochester Community and Technical College in the first round Thursday, 3-1, winning its first game in the national tournament for the first time in school history. Former Jordan-Matthews all-state volleyball player Reagan Smith, a freshman, combined for four kills in the first two tournament games. She also poured in four kills in the win over Owens. In the district title-clinching win over Butler County CC, Smith recorded four kills, a solo block and a block assist.
“Reagan Smith has been a great asset to the program,” Riggan said. “She has transitioned from playing middle to playing right side for the majority of the season. She is a great blocker and has great ball placement. She is a wonderful young lady full of energy and is a great teammate.”
Sandhills CC also won the National Championship Sportsmanship Award for the first time in school history.