The Lady Eagles (28-11) claimed their first SSAC title with a 23-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-9 victory over second-seed Martin Methodist at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery Saturday afternoon in a defensive showcase. Faulkner punches its ticket to the 2018 NAIA Volleyball National Championship for the first time since it was restructured from a regionals format. 

"This moment is hard to put into words," head coach Tori Bartels said. "I've had some pretty special moments in my life. I haven't been able physically to coach like I normally do and they have made a difference. They have done everything I've asked them to and gone beyond."

The first set featured nine ties as the lead never went beyond four for either team. With the game tied at 23, two Lady Eagle errors gave Martin Methodist the early advantage.

Leading 18-17 in the second set, Katie Musser (SR/Prattville, Ala.) stepped behind the line and the combination of Musser, Daijah Washington (JR/Tallahassee, Fla.) and Krystalynn Leomiti (SR/Long Beach, Calif.) found six straight points to blow the set open and eventually take it to tie the match.

Down 23-24 in the third set, Alysa Vinson (FR/Pike Road, Ala.) ignited the crowd with a monstrous kill to save set point. Leomiti and Washington each found to win the third set to Faulkner. 

The fourth set was all Lady Eagles. They led 7-6 at one point and sparked a 5-1 run which caused Martin Methodist to call its final timeout. During that timeout the conversation in Bartels's huddle was simple but motivating according to Julianne Wilkes (JR/Deatsville, Ala.), "We just said don't settle. Keep going for the next point. Don't let this be enough, go get some more." From 7-6, Faulkner went on an 18-3 run to close out the match. The Lady Eagles racked up 16 kills on 32 attacks with zero errors in the final set to lift the championship trophy. 

"We're going to nationals and it's not me, it's those girls," Bartels said. "They made a decision back in August among some broken things that they were going to find a way to win no matter what. And they did."

This team is special, Musser says. "The people, honestly. That's the best answer I can give. Everybody has just clicked ever since preseason and this is what happens."

There were 409 attack attempts combined between the sides in the four set defensive battle. Washington led the team with 21 kills and a .347 attack percentage. She also added 18 digs to complete the double-double. For the first time this season where she has played, Wilkes did not lead the team in digs; Alysa Vinson found 33 while Wilkes had 29. Vinson added 12 kills as well. Leomiti also recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs. Tori Marchant (SR/Huntsville, Ala.) was once again a force at net with seven blocks. Leomiti had four assisted blocks. Katie Musser tallied 28 assists and 13 digs. As a team, they hit .245 on the match. The defense was spectacular holding Martin Methodist to a .120 while picking up nine blocks and 122 digs. 

The next step for Faulkner is the 2018 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round. While unsure of who they will be facing as of now, it is known that the Lady Eagles will travel somewhere to face their opponent at their campus. The draw is scheduled to release Monday.