Albany State wins 8th consecutive Volleyball Championship
The Lady Rams of Albany State took care of business for the eight consecutive SIAC Title, this time losing just 2 games in matches. Mya Snell led the ASU assault as she was named the Tournament MVP. ASU battled Kentucky State in the championship game as the regular season champions from the eastern and western division took center stage. Albany State showed that the eastern division still had the upper hand in the conference as ASU defeated K-State 3-1.
Albany State took care of business early taking the first game 25-14. In the first set K-State was hedl to just 6 kills and a -.160 hitting percentage. The Lady Rams, led by Mya Snell, had 13 kills and a .300 hitting percentage. Snell had 7 of her 20 kills in the first set.
K-State came back in the second set 26-24 rallying from an early deficit. The comeback was sparked by Nikki Douglas (K-State) who had a match high 8 digs. Rakel Hankins led the kill onslaught for K-State as she led the Thorobrettes to 19 kills and a .355 hitting percentage in the game. Ironically, The Lady Rams had their best hitting percentage of the of the match with .550 and tied their kills from game one with 13.
Albany State would settle down and win both the 3rd and 4th games 25-20 and 25-21 respectively to win their 8th title and in arguably the easiest fashion having only loss two games out of 14. The regular season MVP, Rachell Anderson, had four blocks in the game.
Albany State will await the NCAA’s selection to see who they will face in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The selections will be chosen on Monday, November 17, 2008.
For the eight straight season Robert Skinner was named the Tournament Coach of the Tournament. The All Tournament team was also selected by the coaches association:
2008 SIAC Volleyball All Tournament Team:
# 3 Melinda Bastian – Benedict
# 8 Lagi Roberts – Paine
# 4 Mya Snell – Albany State
# 7 Erica Coleman – Kentucky State
# 14 Rakel Hankins – Kentucky State
Setter
# 9 Brittany Black – Clark Atlanta
Libero
# 1 Nikki Douglas – Kentucky State
MVP
# 4 May Snell – Albany State (pictured)
Coach of the Tournament:
Robert Skinner – Albany State