Wallace State libero Emily Wilson serves to Southern Union in their match Friday.
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s volleyball team is one win away from an 8th consecutive Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) championship.
The Lions swept Faulkner State in Saturday’s semifinal round, winning 25-13, 25-15, 25-10 at Tom Drake Coliseum, and sending Wallace State into Sunday’s finals.
Wallace State (37-2) jumped out to early leads in all three sets. The Lions built a 10-3 advantage in the first set, and scooted out to leads of 6-0 and 10-3 in the final set.
“I could talk all day about how well everyone on the team played today (Saturday). It was a great team effort. We played smoothly and our ball control was good. It allowed us to be very efficient in attacking the ball,” said Wallace State coach Randy Daniel, whose team is the tournament’s top seed. “Faulkner State is very good. No matter who we play, tomorrow is a different story, so we have to refocus and be ready.”
Wallace State opened the tournament Friday with a 25-16, 25-7, 25-16 triumph over Southern Union.
Wallace State sophomore Cierra Davis finished with 11 kills and 11 digs against the Bison, Kelsea Bivins had 10 kills and MaKenzie Bearden added 10 kills and six digs.
Abby Borden racked up 40 assists for Wallace State, Emily Wilson finished with 18 digs, Kati Thomas had six kills and Kaylee Maddox added four kills.
Wallace State had multiple players earn regular season awards on Friday night.
Bivins, a 6-foot sophomore from Thompson High, was named the ACCC/Region 22 Player of the Year. Bivins closed regular season play with a conference-best 390 kills. She was also first in blocks per set (3.68), second in hitting percentage (.406) and fifth in blocks (78).
Davis and Bearden, both sophomores, were named All-ACCC/Region 22 1st-team selections. Davis, a Sparkman grad and one of Wallace State’s most versatile players, entered the tournament with 279 digs and 257 kills. Bearden, a Geraldine native, led the ACCC with a .436 hitting percentage during the regular season and was second in the league with 282 kills and 125 blocks.
Borden and Wilson, both freshmen, were named to the All-ACCC/Region 22 second team.
“The three sophomores who made the 1st team have been leaders for us all year,” Daniel said. “Abby and Emily have also been rocks at their respective positions and all I could ask for. I’m happy for all of the players.”
Daniel, who’s in his 10th season at Wallace State, was named the 2016 ACCC Coach of the Year.
Wallace State plays either Faulkner State or Southern Union at noon Sunday for the ACCC title. Faulkner State and Southern Union will play at 10 a.m.
Admission is $7 or $5 for senior citizens. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. The match will be streamed live at www.jockjive.com.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/.
