When the Lancaster Bible College women's volleyball team was in Florida to begin the season at the Clearwater Christian College Tournament, Head Coach Lauren Bewley bought the team, beach themed Silly Bandz and told the team they were going to start their season in Florida and end their season in Florida.

With Thursday night's NCCAA East Region Championship, the Chargers will do just what Bewley said and end their season in Florida at the NCCAA National Tournament. For the first time since 1989, the Chargers are the East Region representative after their, 3-0 win over Philadelphia Biblical University. The Chargers won, 25-12, 25-16, 25-23.

"We were prepared to play tough and play through our nervousness," Bewley said. "We knew we had to be mentally prepared to win tonight and our skills as a team backed up our mental toughness as well."

Hailee Growden had eight kills and 13 assists to lead the Chargers. East Region Player of the Year Peggy Compton had seven kills and 14 assists for LBC, while Lauren Heliger had seven kills and 11 digs.

"Heliger has another level to her game and she went there tonight," Bewley said. "Not only did she go there, but she brought her teammates with her too."


Hannah Fogle led the team in digs with 13, while Lauren Hurd had five of the team's 15 aces.

"Everyone on this team, from the starters to the bench players, know their role on this team," Bewley said. "We have preached all year long that everyone can give more and everyone has to contribute for us to be successful."


After breezing through the first two sets, LBC saw its third set lead evaporate as PBU tied the third set at 23-23.  The Chargers got the next point and won their first title in 21 years after that when PBU's attack went long.

"We aren't great finishers and I think our nervousness kicked in late in that third set and we became hesitant," Bewley said. "But our love and care for each other got us through. We strive to honor God with our play and tonight was no exception."


After beating the Crimson Eagles (15-15) for the first time since 2002 earlier in the season, 3-1, the Chargers shut the door early and took control of the match from the onset. Prior to this season, LBC had taken one set from PBU in the past four years. This season, they were 6-1 against the Crimson Eagles. As a result, LBC will head to Kissimmee, Florida, November 11-13 for the NCCAA National Tournament.

"We are thrilled to go back to Florida," Bewley said. "We have played tough teams all season long and we are excited for the opportunity to play more tough teams. This is a great step for the program and we just want to keep playing."

Notes:
-Hannah Fogle and Jenae Almas were named to the East Region Honorable Mention Team.

-Lauren Heliger was named to the East Region Second Team.

-Growden and Compton were named to the East Region First Team.

-Bewley was named East Region Coach of the Year.

-Both Growden and Compton have over 275 kills, 425 assists and 235 digs.

-Four players [Almas, Heliger, Compton and Growden] have over 225 kills.

-Lauren Hurd has 73 aces this season.