CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers volleyball team topped off the 2024 fall season with two games against nationally-ranked teams at the NJCAA Division I national tournament in Tennessee from November 20-22.

EWC faced off against the Florida Southwestern State College in the Dunn Center at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville on Wednesday, November 20. Florida Southwestern won in a clean sweep.

On Thursday, the Lady Lancers battled the Weatherford College Lady Coyotes from Texas in a winner-takes-all double-elimination game. While EWC controlled the scoreboard or tied the match on multiple occasions in the first and second sets, Weatherford won, 3-0.

EWC head volleyball coach George Hamilton was honored by his peers in the NJCAA with the district coach of the year award at a ceremony during the national tournament.

Historic season

The Lady Lancers dominated the NJCAA Region IX throughout the course of an historic 2024 season. 

EWC finished the season with a 26-11 overall record and a nearly undefeated 11-1 conference record. A 10-game conference winning streak by the Lady Lancers culminated in EWC capturing the NJCAA Region IX North title.

The Lady Lancers proved their ability to fight through five sets and turn initial setbacks into success in point-for-point matches against conference rivals week after week. 

On October 5, coach Hamilton rang in his 400th career win against Central Wyoming College.

EWC went undefeated at the regional tournament in Cheyenne from November 6-8, sweeping McCook Community College, CWC and Laramie County Community College to claim the NJCAA Region IX title for the first time in three decades. 

Florida Southwestern

The Lady Lancers fell to Florida Southwestern in three sets, 25-16, 25-13 and 25-17.

Sophomore Belle Dolan led the EWC offense with seven kills. Freshmen Una Stepic and Amarie Huntsman both contributed six kills with three by fellow freshman Annika Cantrell. Freshman Mina Milivojevic and sophomore Siale Unufe each tallied two kills with one from sophomore Emma Blackstar. 

On the service line, sophomore Baylor Rodgers and Unufe each scored two aces. Blackstar delivered 13 assists.

On defense, Unufe totaled three blocks and Cantrell two.

Weatherford College

The match between EWC and Weatherford came down to the wire as both teams battled to remain in the tournament.

The lead frequently switched hands early in the first set. EWC pulled ahead, 5-4, following a kill by Huntsman. 

Weatherford responded with a six-point run to take the lead, 10-6. The Lady Lancers matched Weatherford in scoring at 15 with a pair of blocks by Unufe, an ace from Unufe and kills by Unufe and Huntsman.

Weatherford edged up by several points, 20-18. Stepic powered over a kill and an error by Weatherford resulted in a 20-20 tie.

Weatherford regained control of the scoreboard at 21 and remained ahead through game point, 25-23.

In the second set, Weatherford maintained the lead, although EWC came within two or three points of overtaking the Lady Coyotes on several occasions.

Toward the end of the set, Weatherford found itself up, 23-20. EWC closed the gap with kills by Cantrell and Dolan. Unufe reached up for a block and tied the set, 24-24.

Blackstar aced a serve and the Lady Lancers took the lead, 25-24. Weatherford scored and the set deadlocked, 25-25. 

The Lady Lancers regained the lead, 26-25, on an attack error by Weatherford. The Lady Coyotes responded with two points to prevail, 28-26.

Weatherford won the third set, 25-18.

Stepic posted double-digit kill at 10. Cantrell and Huntsman each collected eight kills, Unufe seven, Dolan and Milivojevic three each and Blackstar one.

Rodgers set up 16 assists.

Sophomore Boden Liljedahl played libero and tallied 18 digs.

Unufe led defensively with seven while Cantrell contributed five, Stepic three, Milivojevic two and Dolan one.