Webber International Wins TSC Tournament Championship
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – No. 2 seed Webber International defeated no. 1 seed St. Thomas in four sets (14-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19) at The Sun Conference Championship Tournament Finals. With the win, Webber International earns an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships.
St. Thomas won the first set 25-14, before Webber International rattled off three straight set wins to take the championship. The Warriors won the second set 25-22 winning eight of the final 13 points of the set. In the third set, WIU took a large lead before holding off the Bobcats for a 25-20 win to go up 2-1 in sets. In the fourth set, WIU built a 21-13 lead. The Bobcats came back with a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 22-18. Following a WIU timeout, the Warriors won three of the next four points to take the set 25-19 and win the match.
On match point with the score 24-19, Michelle Calderon served to the Bobcats and after a long rally, she set up Brittany Taksas with the match winning kill.
Webber International was led by Virginia Salanoa-Sagapolu with 16 kills to go along with four digs and one block. Setter Carlee Baxter registered a match-high 47 assists with 14 digs, five kills and two blocks. Four different Warriors recorded double-digit digs: libero Michelle Calderon (match-high 30), Baxter (14) Emily Bowen (14) and Gilmary Ramos (10). Amber Lake registered a match-high two service aces.
St. Thomas was led by Conference Player of the Year Whitney Battoe with 16 kills, 11 digs and four blocks. Carly Durr registered 12 kills to add on the attacking side. Setter Kimberly Martino registered 35 assists, 15 digs, five kills and three blocks. On the defensive end, Victoria Philpott led all players with 10 blocks to go along with five kills. Just like the Warriors, the Bobcats also had four players with double-digit digs: Haley Bannister (team-high 19), Martino (15), Battoe (11), and Kelli Kosydor (10).
The NAIA National Championships Opening Round will take place on Saturday, November 18 at campus sites.
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