After dropping the first set, the Lady Eagles bounced back to win the next three to advance to the finals SSAC Volleyball Championship, presented by Golden Corral 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 over Bethel Saturday morning at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. They will play in the conference finals for the second consecutive year and second time ever in program history against Martin Methodist at 2 p.m. 

Faulkner won the first point, but the Wildcats used 17 kills to just five errors to lead the rest of the way in the opening set to take a narrow three point victory.  "The conversation after the first set was shake it off," Krystalynn Leomiti said. "New ball, new chapter." Tori Bartels said "These girls had the determination that they were not going to go quietly, whatever was going to happen, they were going to leave it on the floor."

Tori Bartels's speech worked as the the Lady Eagles turned the page and jumped out to a 7-0 lead and later led 10-3 in the second set before Bethel knotted the game at 17. Leomiti found a kill at 23-23 and Kirsten Carter (SO/Mobile, Ala.) followed suit on the next ball to close the set and even the match.

The third set featured nine ties, the latest one being at 15-15 before six Wildcat attack errors to give Faulkner the set.  

Despite the Wildcats tying the game thrice in the fourth set, Faulkner never trailed as Bethel attack errors, led by great Faulkner blocking, saw the Lady Eagles punch their ticket to the finals for the second consecutive year. 

Leomiti led the squad with 13 kills and completed a double-double with 12 digs. Alysa Vinson (FR/Pike Road, Ala.) and Katie Musser (SR/Prattville, Ala.) each recorded a double-double as well; Vinson had 10 kills and 15 digs, Musser had 26 assists and 12 digs. Julianne Wilkes (JR/Deatsville, Ala.) had 24 digs. Daijah Washington (JR/Tallahassee, Fla.) added 10 digs. Tori Marchant (SR/Huntsville, Ala.) was impassible at net with seven blocks. Leomiti was also a blocking force with six. Carter provided a spark off the bench with four blocks and four kills. 

One the other side of the net, Rachael Gunn recorded 22 kills.

"Martin Methodist will bring the ability to have great defenders," Bartels said. "There will be constantly long rallies and come down to who makes the fewest errors and wants it more."