LLCC defeated by #1 Owens 25-19, 25-19, 25-23
LLCC was defeated in straight sets by the nation's top team, the Owens Express, who's last loss was to the Loggers in the 2016 Final Four. LLCC was put on the back foot immediately, with two quick Owens kills, helped by Logger communication errors which created a six point hole which proved to be the deciding deficit. In the second set, it was two smaller runs of errors which was the difference in between the two teams trading sideouts. Owens built a lead in the third set 23-16, but the Loggers came back to 23-24, but were unable to tie the game, losing 23-25.
"We talk about unforced errors all the time--serves, ball-handling, whatever. Tonight, we gave them 27 points hitting into the net, out of bounds, or on ball-handling. That's more than a third of their points and it cost us our third consecutive chance at a title. Still, this is the Final Four, and in the last three years, our region's occupied the maximum possible slots in the Final Four and four of six in the title game. That's not too shabby."
Record: 36-7
Next: 3rd place game against 2-seed Parkland, 3pm EST
Match Stats:
Digs: Beekman 12, Anderson 11
Aces: 4 tied w/1
Block: Bilyeu 5, Anderson 4
Assists: Anderson 23, Jackson 11
Kills: Cunningham 10, Patton 6