The MVNC women's volleyball team continued to build on its winning reputation over the weekend at the NAIA Great Lakes Regional Tournament at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Despite losing two of their three matches, the Lady Cougars (36-14) played well as they finished up their 1996 season. MVNC entered the tournament as the eighth seed in the 12-team event as they made their third straight appearance in the regional tournament.
In their opening match of pool play, the Lady Cougars faced fifth-seeded Grace (IN) College. After MVNC won the first game 15-13, the Lady Lancers charged back with convincing 15-2 and 15-4 victories in the second and third games.
Trailing 10-7 in the fourth game, the Lady Cougars caught fire and rallied to win 15-11 to force a fifth game. In the deciding game, Grace prevailed 15-9 to take the match.
Tara Seiter led MVNC with 19 kills and seven blocks. Rachel Widener finished with seven kills, while Courtny Testa recorded six blocks. Becky Jefferys, Mandy Metzger, Tammy Custer, and Widener each contributed two aces.
"The players were disappointed that we did not win this match," said MVNC head coach Paul Swanson. "They played really hard and we had a chance to win. Grace is a really good team and we competed well against them."
The second pool play match pitted the Lady Cougars against second-seeded College of St. Francis, ranked 20th in the NAIA national poll. The first game was close as the Fighting Saints took it 15-11. Then, MVNC rebounded to win games two and three by the scores of 16-14 and 15-8.
The two victories took everything out of the Lady Cougars as St. Francis roared back with a 15-3 win in the fourth game. In the fifth game, the score was tied at 3-3 before the Fighting Saints took a commanding 12-3 lead. MVNC tried to rally, but it was not enough as they fell 15-8.
Seiter led the team with 22 kills, 18 digs, two blocks, and two aces. Widener finished with three blocks, eight kills, and 28 digs, while Metzger served up a team-high three aces. Testa recorded two blocks and seven kills, and Amber Rice added five kills and 16 digs.
"This was a very competitive match," said Swanson. "Every point was earned by the team that won the point. We were right in this match and had a chance to win it."
The Lady Cougars' final pool play match was against the host school, Michigan-Dearborn. MVNC was in control from start to finish as they took the match in three straight games by the scores of 15-5, 16-14, 15-10.
Widener led the team with 11 kills, while Seiter and Testa finished with 10 kills apiece. Seiter added four blocks, and Testa finished with three blocks in the final match of her career. Metzger again led the team with three aces.
"We feel good about the way that we represented our school and our program at this tournament," said Swanson. "Our losses were to two of the best teams in our region, and they will only help us to get better in the future."