Reinhardt Captures Volleyball Tournament Championship

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - With a pair of 3-1 victories on Thursday, No. 2 seed Reinhardt collected the 2020-21 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Volleyball Tournament championship.

This is the Eagles third consecutive AAC Tournament championship.

The tournament began Wednesday with the quarterfinal round, and it featured a couple of upsets. No. 8 seed Point knocked off top-seeded Bryan 3-1, and No. 5 Milligan handed No. 4 Union a 3-1 loss. On the other side of the bracket, Reinhardt swept Columbia International and Truett McConnell took care of Bluefield in three sets.

Thursday began with the semifinal round. Milligan was pushed to the brink but held off Point 3-2. Tied at 9-all in the fifth set, Milligan jumped out to a 12-9 by getting two kills from Carley Gregory. Point tried to fight back but only got within two points of Milligan, which took the set 15-12 for the 3-2 victory.

In the other semifinal match, Reinhardt grabbed the early advantage by winning the first set 25-20. Truett McConnell stormed back to win the next frame 25-21. Reinhardt, though, took the next two frames 25-21 and 25-15 to win 3-1 and to advance to the championship match.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - REINHARDT 3, MILLIGAN 1

Milligan came out strong, winning the opening stanza 25-22. The second frame was also hotly-contested, but it was Reinhardt who came out on top, winning 25-20 to even the match at 1-1. The Eagles had the momentum and continued to roll, winning the next two sets 25-15 and 25-18 to win the match 3-1.

Shelby Glawson and Abbey Tucker led Reinhardt at the net with 18 kills apiece. Kaitlyn Reike helped out with 10, and Holly Heath logged 26 digs. Erinn Marroquin registered 38 assists and nine digs.

For Milligan, Gregory posted 14 kills with Julia Codispoti following with 11.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Heath collected Tournament MVP honors as she recorded 65 digs for a 5.9 digs-per-set average. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team are Glawson and Allyson Mattson from Reinhardt, Codispoti and Cameron McConnell from Milligan, Abby Maxwell from Truett McConnell, and Te'a Owens from Point.

NEXT STOP: NATIONALS

Reinhardt already earned its berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament by finishing as the regular-season runner-up. Bryan advances due to being the regular-season championship. Milligan receives the third automatic berth by virtue of being the tournament runner-up.

The NAIA Opening Round is set for Saturday, April 17. The bracket will be announced April 11 or 12 by the NAIA.