A determined Salt Lake Community College women's volleyball team shook off a first-round loss to win three more matches and ninth place overall in the NJCAA Division 1 National Volleyball Championship in Casper, Wyoming.
All Tournament team member Carol Grasso slams home the winning point. After two sets Saturday it looked like the No. 6 Bruins would roll right over No. 12 Polk State College from Lakeland, Florida after going 25-14 and 25-18. The Eagles fought back for a 22-25 win in the third set after SLCC scored five unanswered points down the stretch.
Carol Grasso's consistent play resulted in another double/double with 23 kills and 13 digs, followed by
Kallie Schmit's 14 kills and 5 digs. Grasso, one of 12 women to make the All Tournament Team, also posted 4 aces in the first set of Saturday's match.
Mariana Pilon led the team with 16 digs, with
Cassandra Fenton pitching in 9,
Rachel Davis with 6 and Schmit with 5.
The team celebrates after winning three straight matches to clinch 9th.
SLCC finished the game with a .248 hitting percentage to Polk's .143. No. 2 seed Blinn College beat No. 5 Miami Dade in the championship game later on Saturday.
The tournament at the Casper Events Center closed out the Bruins' season, which ended with a 23-10 regular-season record. While in Casper the team lost in the first round to Missouri State University – West Plains, but then beat New Mexico Military Institute, Western Nebraska Community College and finally Polk State.
The team will lose six sophomores, including Grasso, headed into the next season.
The team and cheer squad pose with SLCC President Dr. Deneece Huftalin and Athletics Director Kevin Dustin. 