Volleyball sweeps powerhouse Armstrong Atlantic to claim PBC Tournament

By John Jordan
Special to The Gargoyle

AIKEN, S.C. − Meg Weathersby (Maitland, Fla./Orangewood Christian) recorded a match-high 13 kills on 30 errorless swings for a .433 attack percentage to help lead Flagler College to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-23) win over Armstrong Atlantic State University Sunday afternoon in the championship match of the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Tournament at the Convocation Center. Flagler is in its first year as a member of the Peach Belt.

Flagler raised its record to 32-8 and tied the school record for most wins in a season (32 in 2003). The Saints also extend their winning streak to 25 matches and earn a berth to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional as the Peach Belt’s automatic qualifier. Armstrong Atlantic is 26-9 and is expected to garner one of the five at-large berths to the regional tournament Nov. 19-21 or Nov. 20-22 at a site to be determined.

Weathersby also added 11 digs to notch her 10th double-double of the season and also tallied three total blocks and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Katie Beale (Stuart, Fla./Martin County HS) notched her team-leading 18th double-double with 11 kills and a match-high 21 digs. Rachel Stacy (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek HS) recorded 10 kills and hit .364 for the match and was also selected as the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player after recording 27 kills and a .532 attack percentage in three matches. Justine Burkhardt (St. Augustine, Fla./Winthrop U.) chipped in with nine kills and 11 digs. Olivia Snipes (Easley, S.C./Easley HS) tallied 22 assists and eight digs while Rebecca Royal (Green Cove Springs, Fla./Fleming Island HS) added 13 assists and two total blocks.

Leia Pittman led the Pirates with 10 kills. Casey Howett paced the defense with 13 digs while Kristin Standhardinger recorded a double-double with 33 assists and 12 digs.

Members of the Peach Belt Conference All-Tournament Team are: Ashley Ferry (Lander); Katy Handrick (Montevallo); Kristin and Kathrin Standhardinger (Armstrong Atlantic); and Meg Weathersby and Rachel Stacy (MVP) (Flagler).

Flagler def. Armstrong Atlantic 25-22,25-18,25-23

Armstrong Atlantic (26-9) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Pittman, Leia 10-0-1;
Standhardinger, Kath 7-1-1; Birkemeier, Amy 7-0-0; Jones, Amanda
7-0-1; Remlinger, Michele 5-0-2; Bevolo, Torrie 0-1-0; Yates, Nicole
0-2-0; Edgeworth, Natalie 0-1-0; Totals 36-5-3.0. (Assists) –
Standhardinger, Kris 33. (Dig leaders) – Howett, Casey 13;
Standhardinger, Kris 12

Flagler (32-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Weathersby, Meg 13-0-3; Beale,
Katie 11-0-2; Stacy, Rachel 10-0-2; Burkhardt, Justine 9-0-2; Royal,
Rebecca 1-0-2; Hendrian, Becky 0-2-0; Totals 44-2-6.0. (Assists) –
Snipes, Olivia 22; Royal, Rebecca 13. (Dig leaders) – Beale, Katie 21;
Burkhardt, Justine 11; Weathersby, Meg 11; Snipes, Olivia 8

Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: Nov 15, 2009 Attend: 187 Time: 1:20
Referees: Dave Mabe, Michael Holder
Flagler wins first ever PBC Tournament Title