Concord, NC--Barber-Scotia Lady Sabers came out onto the court
to warm-up to take on the Tigerettes of Voorhees College, Denmark,
SC in the semi-finals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (EIAC) 2002 Volleyball Tournament. At first glance,
the Lady Sabers had only six players dressed. You would have
expected six more players to come out of the locker room. When
the match started, their were no players on the bench. Barber-Scotia
had only six players on the team to compete for the tournament
title. When the match started, the Voorhees appeared to have
Barber-Scotia out manned. Lady Sabers played with intensity,
under control, and relaxed. The Tigerettes played the Lady Sabers
hard throughout the match. However, the Lady Sabers held off
Voorhees to win 3-0 (31-29, 30-25, 30-10).
Two
hours later, the slug feast for the tournament title began.
Barber-Scotia took on the EIAC 2002 Conference regular season
champions, the Pantherettes of Claflin University from Orangeburg,
SC. Claflin had defeated Barber-Scotia twice during the regular
season, but at home in the tournament finals, the Lady Sabers
were prepared to defend the title The match started out like
two heavyweight boxers contending for the title. Claflin’s
Joyce Robinson, the EIAC Player-of-the-Year, began the match
with some hard serves. Both team were spiking the ball relentlessly.
The first game went back and forth until the Lady Sabers edged
the Pantherettes 31-29.
In the second game, Claflin jumped out to a 6-1 lead, but could
not put the Lady Sabers away. The Pantherettes created several
service errors to allow the Lady Sabers to win the second games
30-25. Just when Barber-Scotia thought they had the match under
control, the Pantherettes stormed back to win the third game
31-29. At the begin of the fourth game, the Lady Sabers looked
exhausted. Coach Isley did not have anyone substitute to give
his players a break. Instead, he used his time-outs wisely to
let the six stay focus.
In game four, the Pantherettes did not helped their efforts
by creating several service errors when they had three three-point
leads. Kelsie Johnson, of Barber-Scotia kept telling her teammates
“to make every hit count.” When she had an opportunity
to spike the ball, she made sure that they were not returnable.
The Lady Sabers held-off the Pantherettes to win game four 32-30
and to capture 2002 tournament title.
Kelsie Johnson of Barber-Scotia College was named the tournament
MVP. Other members of the All-Tournament team were: Ebony Houston,
Jahmina Walters, and Charion Jordan of Barber-Scotia College:
Shunyettta Alston, Flavia Mutka, and Joyce Robinson of Claflin
University; Bernadine West of Edward Waters College, Gevetta
Smith of Morris College; and Jessica Russell and Sabrina Sherwood
of Voorhees College.
November 1, 2002 Quarter-Finals
#4 Morris College vs. #5 Edward Waters College 30-18, 30-16,
30-12
#3 Voorhees College vs. #6 Allen University 30-20, 30-19, 32-30
November 2, 2002 Semi-Finals
#1 Claflin University vs. #4 Morris College 30-20, 30-22, 30-20
#2 Barber-Scotia College vs. #3 Voorhees College 31-29, 30-25,
30-19 Finals
#2 Barber-Scotia vs. #1 Claflin University 31-29, 30-25, 29-31,
32-30
Two
hours later, the slug feast for the tournament title began.
Barber-Scotia took on the EIAC 2002 Conference regular season
champions, the Pantherettes of Claflin University from Orangeburg,
SC. Claflin had defeated Barber-Scotia twice during the regular
season, but at home in the tournament finals, the Lady Sabers
were prepared to defend the title The match started out like
two heavyweight boxers contending for the title. Claflin’s
Joyce Robinson, the EIAC Player-of-the-Year, began the match
with some hard serves. Both team were spiking the ball relentlessly.
The first game went back and forth until the Lady Sabers edged
the Pantherettes 31-29.