SeaWolves win their first YSCC Volleyball Championship

The Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) exhilarating volleyball season culminated in a remarkable Final Four on October 26 at NHTI. Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) claimed the top spot with an impressive conference record of 11-1 and an overall record of 18-2, achieving a .917 win percentage in the conference and .900 overall. Paul Smith's College followed in second place, finishing 10-2 in the conference and 12-8 overall, holding a .833 conference win percentage. Central Maine Community College (CMCC) secured third place with a 9-3 conference record and 10-6 overall, earning a .750 conference win percentage. Word of Life finished in fourth place, with a conference record of 5-7 and an overall record of 8-11. NHTI rounded out the top five with a 4-8 conference record and 7-13 overall. In the semifinal round, SMCC advanced to the championship after a competitive 3-1 victory over NHTI. PSC secured their final appearance in another semifinal matchup by defeating CMCC 3-1.

In the championship match, the SMCC Seawolves clinched their first-ever YSCC title with a 3-1 win over the defending champions, Paul Smith's College. The Seawolves dominated the first two sets, winning 25-14 and 25-19. The Bobcats fought back in the third set, reaching set point at 24-18, but SMCC rallied to tie at 24. After an intense five minutes of trading points, PSC emerged with a 28-26 win.

The fourth set remained tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads and neither holding more than a three-point advantage. Ultimately, SMCC secured the championship with a 26-24 victory in the final set.

Individual accolades were awarded to standout players:

• Tournament Most Valuable Player: Meryk Lewellen of SMCC for her exceptional contributions throughout the championship.

• Defensive Player of the Tournament: Kaliyah Davis of PSC was recognized for her strong defensive performance.

• Offensive Player of the Tournament: Yana Montell of SMCC, for her crucial role in securing SMCC's victory.

This historic win marks a new era for SMCC athletics and highlights the team's dedication and skill throughout the season.