Faulkner (22-9, 13-2 SSAC) claimed its first conference title in nearly 20 years with a 29-27, 25-18, 26-28, 25-19 victory over Bethel (16-7, 9-5 SSAC) Saturday afternoon in Tine Davis Gymnasium; it was the Lady Eagles 12th consecutive victory. With the win and a Martin Methodist loss at Mobile, the Lady Eagles sealed the outright regular season conference championship 

Bethel was unphased by the confident Faulkner side as both teams battled back and forth through the extended first set. The Lady Eagles were able to hold out the win as each team had chances to clinch the set to win the nail-biting first frame. The Wildcats found 19 kills in the first set, but Faulkner's 17 and blocking was enough to take the set. 

14 kills from Tori Bartels's side in the second frame helped lead the Lady Eagles to a 2-0 lead. The Wildcats turned up the heat with 18 kills in the third to force a fourth set.

Faulkner benefited from 12 Bethel errors and timely home team kills in the final frame as the Lady Eagles clinched the four set victory. 

Krystalynn Leomiti recorded 12 kills and Kortney Barnes added 10 with a .409 hitting percentage. 

The Lady Eagle defense was tasked with stopping a powerful Wildcat attack led by Rachael Gunn with 19 kills and Hannah McGowan with 18.  Despite the success of those two players, Faulkner's defense rose to the occasion and held the Bethel attack in check. Julianne Wilkes recorded 24 digs to lead the floor. Leomiti completed her double-double with 11 digs. Alysa Vinson picked up 10 more. As a team, the host blocked 14 attempts. Kortney Barnes had two solos while Krystalynn Leomit added a solo and seven assists. Tori Marchant helped out on six. 

Serves were crucial for the team success with eight aces to just one error. 

"These girls deserve it," Bartels said. "They have poured their blood, sweat and tears out and they have worked their hearts out. When I could not go, they went further than I ever expected... They do not care who gets the most kills, who got the most digs, they just want to win togther."

Faulkner will hold the top seed in the SSAC Tournament to be held Nov. 8-10 at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery. The highest two seeds to win their pools will receive a bye into the semifinals.

The next contest for the Lady Eagles will be Friday in Tampa, Fla. against Florida College to close out the conference regular season. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m.