Walters State earns third straight Region VII tournament title with sweep of Cleveland State

CHATTANOOGA — With three dominating sets against Cleveland State in the NJCAA Region VII Championship game, Walters State claimed its third consecutive tournament title and secured a spot in the Southeast District tournament. The Lady Senators swept the Lady Cougars 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-11).

WSCC (20-7) started off quick in the first set, holding off Cleveland State 25-18 with a 23.7 kill percentage at the net. They would nearly double that in game two, posting a 40.6 kill percentage in a 25-15 cruise. The final frame was a quick one, with the Lady Senators displacing CSCC 25-11 with a 27.5 kill percentage at the net.

The Lady Cougars got five kills from Aly Grace Lemons, but were overmatched in the frontcourt the entire game.

Freshman Olivia Oxendine (Pensacola, Fla.) led Walters State with 10 kills, a block and two service aces. Freshmen Amanda Singleton (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Jania Hill (Morristown, Tenn.) each recorded seven kills apiece. Singleton added 11 digs and 12 assists. Hill shoveled up seven digs.

Sophomore Alexis Wakefield (Portland, Tenn.) led the team with 17 digs to go with five assists. Freshman Taylor Tigue (Franklin, Tenn.) recorded 17 assists, three service aces and seven digs. Sophomore Courtney Dotson (Greeneville, Tenn.) had five kills and six digs. Freshman Aubrey Cobb (Church Hill, Tenn.) finished with six digs.

Walters State will have one final tune up game at 'Z' Buda Gymnasium when they host No. 5-ranked Catawba Valley Tuesday night. The Lady Senators are undefeated at home this season, but have dropped two matches to the Red Hawks this season.

The Southeast District tournament begins Nov. 9 at the Region X Champion with a berth in the national tournament at stake.