VOLLEYBALL Season in Review

he DBU Lady Patriot Volleyball win their first round matchup, setting up Conference, also named to the ASU Team completed one of the most a winner-take-all championship, Satur- Invitational All-Tournament Team, and successful seasons in team history day, Nov. 23. Heartland Hitter of the Week on Sept. 16. in 2013, winning the Heartland The Lady Patriots came out firing in the “Cameron (Hartson) is absolutely ConferenceT Tournament Championship championship, taking the first two sets deserving of everything she has earned,” and advancing to the NCAA Regional for to stun the host-Lions. The home club said Kokel of her All-American. “This is a the second time in team history. showed plenty of fight, however, winning testimony to what hard work, dedication Senior Cameron Hartson shined all sea- the next two frames, including a thrilling and determination can do for an athlete.” son, earning numerous honors through- 29-27 fourth set, forcing a deciding final In addition to Hartson, Tyler Bradsher, out the year, including Daktronics Third set. Taylor Jones, and Kendall Sepanek are Team All-American, AVCA Honorable UAFS fought back in the middle of the also graduating from DBU. “I’m proud of Mention All-American, and Heartland match, and DBU came alive in the final them, and I’m happy for them that they Conference Libero of the Year. frame, dominating to the tune of a 15-8 got this far,” added the DBU coach. “Cam- As for the team’s performance, things win and the Heartland Conference Tour- eron and Ty (Bradsher) have been starters started slowly, as the Lady Patriots went nament Championship. here for four years.” 1-3 in their opening tournament at Ange- The win earned the Lady Patriots an au- “The four seniors, with Kendall Sepanek lo State University. They quickly bounced tomatic bid to the NCAA Division II South and Taylor Jones, provided a lot of spiri- back, however, winning three straight Central Regional Tournament, played in tual leadership and a lot of great person- matches, including the beginning of their Canyon, . DBU took on No.6-ranked ality. Having four seniors who will lead Heartland Conference schedule. West Texas A&M, and dropped a 3-0 deci- and a team that will follow is one of the The most challenging stretch of the sion in the regional opener. reasons we got as far as we did.” schedule came as DBU spent 13 of their “We are a team that follows Christ, and next 15 matches on the road, spanning He got us here,” said DBU Head Coach more than a month. The stretch included Cathy Kokel following the regional ap- a demanding tournament at - pearance. “The team’s faith in Him, and Fort Smith, before continuing conference relying on Him, is a huge part of our suc- play. Though the Lady Patriots came up cess.” empty at the tournament, they picked up Despite the regional loss, the Lady seven wins overall, including six crucial Patriots tied for their best performance conference matches. since joining NCAA Division II, having also Eight of the last nine matches were at advanced to the regional in 2009. DBU, with the Lady Patriots concluding “A lot of people don’t know about us their regular season schedule with a 5-3 nationally,” added Kokel, “and that moti- Heartland stretch. The club finished at vates us. We’ll be back here next year, and 12-6 in league play, good for the No.2 we will take care of business. Not a lot of seed in the conference tournament, people know about us and we’re going to which determines the automatic bid to change that.” NCAA Tournament play. In addition to the All-American and Arkansas-Fort Smith earned the top Libero of the Year honors for Hartson, the seed and right to host the conference senior was also named Daktronics and Tyler Bradsher & tournament with a 16-2 Heartland record, AVCA All-Region, Heartland All-Confer- Cameron Hartson including a pair of hotly contested five- ence, as well as Heartland Libero of the set wins over the Lady Patriots. The four- Week three different times. Junior Tiara team bracket saw both UAFS and DBU Iwegbu joined Hartson as All-Heartland

DBU Report Spring 2014 11