The volleyball team won the National Transitions Challenge tournament, defeating the University of South Dakota 3-2 in the championship game Nov. 15 in Smithfield, R.I.
The Huskies defeated the University of North Dakota 3-1 and Seattle University 3-2 Nov. 14 to make it to the finals.
Head coach Kaddie Platt said she was pleased at how the team performed and made every point as intense as if it were the championship point.
"The girls stepped up to the challenge and refused to lose," Platt said. "We were the only school transitioning from NAIA. The other schools were coming from Division II."
Platt said she was also very proud of her seniors. Senior Jessica Barrera was named MVP of the tournament. Seniors Megan Klimitchek and Bryce Zimmerman also played well, she added.
In addition to being named MVP, Barrera was also named to the All-Tournament Team, composed of the tournament's standout players. Barrera, who ends her career second on the University's career kill list with 1,447, had 49 kills and set her season-high with 21 kills against Seattle.
"Our chemistry was amazing," Klimitchek said. "We came out ready to play."
Klimitchek, who had 41 kills throughout the tournament, echoed the sentiment of Platt when she said it felt like every point counted. Klimitchek added that she knew the team would win the tournament trophy when she saw it.
Zimmerman had four aces in the championship match. In the fifth game of the championship, Zimmerman took serve with a 2-1 lead and rallied for seven straight points.
"All the teams were equally competitive," Zimmerman said. "Competing is not just about physical strength but also mental toughness."
Zimmerman added that the game against Seattle was the best game the team had ever played.
"Every time the team scored a point, we celebrated the point 'Michael Phelps-style,'" she said.
Platt said she was proud of her team for not losing focus throughout the weekend despite distractions. The team experienced travel delays, postponing its arrival to Smithfield until nearly 4 a.m. the day of the tournament. The fifth game against Seattle was delayed for over an hour when towels in the locker room dryer caught fire.
Despite the challenges, the team never lost its momentum and brought the trophy home, ending the season with a 24-7 record.
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