By Calvin Jensen, USU Eastern Sports Information Contributor
The No. 12 Lady Eagles of USU Eastern’s women’s volleyball team will travel over the mountain to Snow College this Friday to compete in the Scenic West Athletic Conference Region 18 Tournament. In a year filled with record-breaking achievements by the Lady Eagles, the team and coaching staff has always had one goal in mind: bringing home the program’s first conference title and punching their ticket to the national tournament.
The Lady Eagles will have their chance to do just that this Friday and Saturday as they will join five other SWAC teams in what is sure to be some intense volleyball. After finishing conference play with a record of 7-3, the Lady Eagles will enter the tournament with a first round bye as the #2 seed. On Friday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m., the team will take to the court against the winner of the College of Southern Idaho and the College of Southern Nevada match, which will be played earlier in the day at 10 a.m. The Lady Eagles swept their regular season series against both of these teams.
On the other side of the bracket sits No. 5 Snow College, which also earned a first round bye and enters the tournament the #1 seed, having went undefeated in conference play. They will await the winner of No. 15 Salt Lake Community College and Colorado Northwest Community College that will take place earlier that day 1 p.m.
“This has been a year of amazing volleyball by our team,” said head coach Danielle Jensen. “We have played many of the best programs in the nation and have proven that we can win. The hard work and court time that we put in is to prepare us for this moment and that has always been our focus. This Scenic West is one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. We have had a successful year and have had remarkable development in our athletes; however, the slate is wiped clean as we begin tournament play and that progress they have worked so hard for will need to be impactful the minute they step on the court. I have full confidence that will happen; they are amazing young ladies.”
Should USU Eastern get the win Friday afternoon, they will advance to the conference championship game, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9. The team invites all community members, friends, family and fans to make the trip over Friday and Saturday to help cheer them on. Those unable to make the trip can follow the Lady Eagles on the following live stream links:
Region XVIII Volleyball Tournament Game #1 Southern Idaho vs. Southern Nevada:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aly-OU8krQk
Region XVIII Volleyball Tournament Game #2 Salt Lake vs. Colorado Northwestern:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3goxvv4W7q4
Region XVIII Volleyball Tournament Game #3 USU-E vs. Winner of Game #1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAmX5pOj5KQ
Region XVIII Volleyball Tournament Game #4 Snow College vs. Winner of Game #2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1eyO6ollk
Region XVIII Volleyball Tournament Game #5 Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtjiJTW7o_Y