Box Score

ST. AUGUSTINE – Ashley Seal recorded a double-double with a match-high 16 kills and 36 assists to help Armstrong Atlantic State University defeat Flagler College 3-2 (15-25, 25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 15-12) in the championship match of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Sunday afternoon at Flagler Gymnasium.

Armstrong improved to 32-5 overall and won its third tournament title, and first since 2008. Flagler fell to 22-10 and had its 11-match winning streak in the conference tournament snapped. The Saints had won the last three league titles – all against the Pirates.

Seal narrowly missed a triple-double as she tallied seven digs. Jessica Santaniello, an all-tournament selection, added 15 kills and eight digs while Amanda Jones contributed 14 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Brittany Wolf earned Tournament MVP honors after finishing with 10 kills and six total blocks. Abby Windsor recorded 15 digs and Megan Pando registered 25 assists.

Dianna Craine earned all-tournament honors after leading the Saints with 15 kills and nine digs. Sophie Meyer finished with a season-high 14 kills and hit .417 with just four errors on 24 swings. She earned a spot on the all-conference team. Casey Gnann tallied 12 digs. Amelia Morgan registered 43 assists.

The Saints broke open an 8-all tie in the first set with a 6-1 run which was fueled by a pair of kills from Craine. Flagler rolled to a 25-15 win in the opener. Emilee Taylor and Craine combined for eight kills.

Armstrong opened the second set on a 7-3 run and took its largest lead, 19-11, when Seal served her second consecutive ace. Flagler pulled to within three (21-18) on a block error by Kristen Holmes, but the Pirates held on by scoring the last four points.

With the score 14-13 Armstrong in the third set, Holmes recorded a kill and a solo block, then Seal added a kill of her own to take a 17-13 lead and prompts a Flagler timeout. The Saints pulled to within one (18-17) on a hitting error by Carina Marinho, but could not get any closer. The Pirates claimed the third set 25-19.

The Saints never trailed in the fourth set, winning 25-21. After the Pirates tied the match at 10-all on a Jones kill, Flagler went on a 5-1 run and force Armstrong to call a timeout. The Saints had kills by Meyer, Craine and Crystal Niederriter in the run.

Both teams were hot in the fifth and final set. Armstrong hit .455 and Flagler hit at a .316 clip. The Pirates pulled away when Wolf recorded back-to-back kills to give Armstrong a 12-01 lead. Morgan pulled Flagler to within a point (13-12), but Seal ended the match with consecutive kills.

Joining Craine and Meyer from Flagler and Santaniello and Wolf on the all-tournament team were Tarryn Angermeier from Lander University and Jenna Keeler from Augusta State University.

Both teams will see who they play at the Southeast Regional Tournament (Nov. 29-Dec. 1) at potentially Savannah, Ga. The official announcement of the pairings is tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern.

  Armstrong def. Flagler 15-25,25-18,25-19,21-25,15-12

  Armstrong (32-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ashley Seal 16-2-2; Jessica
  Santaniello 15-0-0; Amanda Jones 14-0-2; Brittany Wolf 10-0-6; Carina
  Marinho 7-0-2; Kristen Holmes 3-0-4; Megan Pando 0-1-0; Totals
  65-3-11.0. (Assists) - Ashley Seal 36; Megan Pando 25. (Dig leaders) -
  Abby Winsor 15; Jessica Santaniello 8

  Flagler (22-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Dianna Craine 15-0-2; Sophie
  Meyer 14-0-1; Emilee Taylor 9-3-3; Crystal Niederriter 8-1-3; Amelia
  Morgan 5-1-0; Rachel Stacy 4-1-4; Totals 55-6-7.0. (Assists) - Amelia
  Morgan 43. (Dig leaders) - Casey Gnann 12; Dianna Craine 9; Caitlyn
  Kovach 9; Emilee Taylor 8

  Site: St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Gym)
  Date: Nov 18, 2012   Attend: 170   Time: 1:47
  Referees: Arleen Hughes, Darin Clark
  Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship
  #2 Flagler vs. #1 Armstrong