Shorter (24-5) advanced by outhitting its opponent .258 to .022 while winning the sets 25-16, 25-12, 25-21.
The first set was tied at 14, when Leslie Welch recorded the kill that sent the Lady Hawks on a roll to record 11 of the next 13 points to claim the set.
Shorter dominated the second set, never tailing en route to the 25-12 set victory.
The third set saw Southern Wesleyan lead 18-16, before Anna Graham recorded back-to-back kills to tie the set and spark the rally that claimed the match. The Lady Hawks hit a match high .538 in the deciding set.
“We played really well to beat a good team,” said coach Jon Moseley, “We are proud of the effort and happy for the girls to be able to advance to the national tournament.”
Jasmine Crook recorded a match-high 15 kills, including the match winner, while hitting .355. Graham had 10 kills, including hitting .389.
Four of the eight aces were served by Christina Johnson, while she added three kills and two digs.
Tanequa Whitman led the Lady Hawks with 13 digs while pitching in three kills.
Jordan Corder registered 32 assists, while adding seven digs — the same total was matched by Loren Olive and Crook.
After the match was over, the NCCAA announced several regional and tournament superlatives in which Shorter was well represented.
The Second Team All-Region saw Olive named as Outside Hitter and Graham take the honors for Middle Blocker.
The First Team All-Region had four Lady Hawks; Whitman was named at Libero, Welch was honored with Middle Blocker, Crook took the title of Outside Hitter, and Corder was named as Setter.
Three members of the Lady Hawks were named to the All-Tournament team; Corder, Crook, and Welch.
Rounding out the awards was Moseley being named as NCCAA South Region Coach of the Year; and Corder being named NCCAA South Region Player of the Year.
“I am excited for the girls,” said Moseley, “to receive recognition for how well they played this year.”
The NCCAA National Volleyball Championship is scheduled to take place Nov. 29–Dec. 1 in Kissim-mee, Fla..
SHORTER MEN’S BASKETBALL
Shorter 98, Young Harris 87
YOUNG HARRIS — With the Hawks down by two at the break, senior Kenny Leverette stepped up in the second half to rally the Hawks to the 98-87 win at Young Harris.
Leverette scored 19 of his 22 points in the second half that saw Shorter (2-1) overcome the 35-33 score to outscore Young Harris by 13 to out distance the home team. The point total set a new season high.
C.J. Davis also had his best effort in the second half, scoring 17 of his game-high 24 points. He added five boards, three assists, and two steals on the night. Davis also hit on three 3-point shots, while being a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.
Both Anthony Banks and Brandon Pullman added 18 points for the night, with Banks adding 16 in the second half and Pullman scoring 11 in the same frame. Pullman added nine boards for a game high, all on the defensive glass, and convert all six free throw attempts. Banks pulled down seven rebounds on the game.
Dedric Ware registered 10 assists, with eight in the second half. Ware chipped in with two rebounds, and scoring six points that included going 4-6 on free throws.
BERRY MEN’S BASKETBALL
LaGrange 61, Berry 58
Berry’s furious rally came up short at LaGrange College, 61-58, on Saturday night. Mac Whelen led the Vikings with 17 points.
Berry is now 1-1.
In the second half, LaGrange reeled off 11 straight points and Berry trailed 49-32—its largest deficit—with 9:24 remaining in the contest. The Vikings, however, then put on a furious rally in the last few minutes. Back- to-back threes by freshman Walker Tuten and Whalen made the score 57-55 with 1:06 left.
Jonathan Abrams cut the margin to 59-58 on layup with 14 seconds remaining. Ira Smith converted two free throws to put the home team ahead 61-58. A Tuten three-point attempt was off the mark with two seconds left and the Panthers escaped with the win.
After a low scoring first half, LaGrange held a 23-21 lead at the break. Devan Bruce’s jump shot with 3:51 left in the half gave the Vikings its lone lead of the game at 21-20.
Yet defense prevailed as both clubs shot 28-percent from the field in the first 20 minutes.
Abrams added 10 points for Berry and Lake Graham collected 10 rebounds for the Vikes.
Panther Center Patrick Dugger had a game-high 18 points and grabbed 10 boards. LaGrange led in rebounds, 45-36.
The Vikings play at Emory University on Tuesday night.
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