Covenant Volleyball team.
It has been one heck of a season for the Covenant Scots volleyball team. It has been a season that has included tough losses, outstanding wins, and some insurmountable deficits. But despite the 1-6 start they have done the improbable— win the USA South regular season title.
The Lady Scots finished the season with a 16-12 record overall, propelled by a 9 game winning streak to end the season. They clinched the south division title with a 13-3 conference play record.
This is their first official title since joining Division III and the second title in the history of the program.
There have been many factors that have contributed to this year’s success. One was the decision to add Covenant Scot Volleyball alumna Stephanie Wharton as an assistant coach. Her knowledge of the game and her ability to connect with her players have been some of her most notable contributions.
Another factor to this great season has been the play of the freshman, including Ariana Buchanan, Hannah Harris, Hannah Stewart, and Olivia Becker. Coach Jo has used these freshmen since the beginning of the year, and they have performed at a high level. It’s very exciting to see the future of our program already playing competitively this early in their career.
Finally, and most importantly, the leadership of this year’s senior class has made this season one for the ages, with seniors Jaclyn Stuart, Kelsey Mathis, Chelsea VanDyk, and Hannah Rodgers. They have put together great careers and have made their mark in the Covenant’s history books.
As we look back on the regular season, one of the best moments remains the match against Maryville. On Oct. 13, Maryville visited the real Scots for a rematch of a tough game earlier in the season that resulted in a Covenant defeat in five sets. With Maryville being one of the top teams in the conference, many people were excited about this match.
The Covenant student section was completely filled up and as rowdy as ever (which means that people actually cheered!). The Lady Scots responded to the hype with an easy victory in three straight sets in front of one of the largest crowds in Covenant history. This match jump-started a 9 game winning streak and set the tone for the final stretch of the regular season.
The Lady Scots will open up as the #1 overall seed as well as host the USA South Tournament. They will open against Ferrum on Friday, November 6, at 7 PM. They defeated Ferrum on straight sets on homecoming and look to do the same on Friday. Expect to see hundreds of screaming Scots on Friday watching the regular season champs continue their historic season. Be there and as always GO SCOTS!