By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---Dakia Sellers recorded a kill on the final point as the No. 17 Express volleyball team defeated Columbus State Community College 25-21, 17-25, 25-23, 25-21 in the SHAC tonight.
With the win, the Express finish the regular season 31-9 overall and 12-0 in the OCCAC. They captured their third straight OCCAC championship, which is also their 13th in the past 14 years and 14th title overall.
Sellers led the Express with 23 kills, while Alyssa Meis (16), Jazmine Thomas (10) and Tiffani Hobbs (7) also helped produce in that category.
One match after setting the program record for most assists in a single match, Molly Hilfinger got 54 more to lead the team. In the last two matches, she has 118 assists and her two highest assist totals of the season. She is now 133 assists away from tying the program's all-time career assist record.
While Bailey Windham recorded a team-high two aces, Lisa Urbanski led the team in digs with 35. Alyssa Meis added 18 digs, while Hilfinger and Windham each had nine. Brandi Schimming pitched in eight digs, too.
Sellers had the team's lone solo block, while Thomas and Hobbs each had two assisted blocks.
Overall, the Express had 59 kills, 55 assists, three aces, 87 digs, one solo block and six assisted blocks.
Notes
The win for the Express stretched their OCCAC winning streak to 34 consecutive matches, which has included back-to-back 12-0 seasons and 10 straight wins to close out the 2010 season. Their 12-0 record in OCCAC play also marks the eighth time the Express has achieved an undefeated conference season.
Additionally, Express head coach Sonny Lewis won his 130th OCCAC match. He is 130-8 (.942) in OCCAC play since taking over in 2001.
The Express have completed their regular season and will open Region XII District E tournament play as the #1 seed, which earns them a first round bye. Their first match will be on Nov. 3 at 12 p.m. against an opponent TBD in the winner's bracket semifinals. Should they win that, the Express will advance to the winner's bracket finals at 4 p.m. on Nov. 3.
The championship of the double elimination tournament will be held Nov. 4. The winner advances to the NJCAA D-II National Tournament, which is being hosted in the SHAC at Owens Community College.