AIKEN, S.C. – The Lander volleyball team saw its season end on Friday afternoon as the sixth-seeded Bearcats fell to third-seeded Flagler, 3-0, in the first round of the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament hosted by USC Aiken at the Convocation Center. Game scores were: 25-12, 25-19, 25-18.
Lander ends the season 21-12 overall, while Flagler (24-6), which has won 13 straight matches, advances to to the semifinal round against the winner of No. 2 Wingate vs. No. 7 Queens.
The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and the third time in program history, while recording their third straight 20+ win season. Lander’s 21 wins are the fourth most in school history.
Khiani Kelly led all players with 15 kills, while Halle Dotson added five and Reilly Kunstler finished with three. Emily Reed recorded a season-high 14 assists to lead the Bearcats and Katie Haake added 12 assists on the day. Hannah McManus tallied 31 digs, while Haake and Kendall Korte each finished with 10 and Amanda Medlock added five. Reyonia Whipple and Kelly each recorded a pair of block assists, while Kunstler and Dale Rogers finished with one assist each.
Flagler, the Peach Belt Conference tournament champions, were led by Sara Davis (11 kills), Taja Valmyr (10 kills, 10 digs), Tara Sivisky (35 assists, 16 digs), Rachel Porada (14 digs) and Sarah Schark (10 digs).
