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Flagler College Athletics

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0
Lander Lander 7-19,4-11 Peach Belt
3
Winner Flagler Flag 26-3,15-0 Peach Belt
Lander Lander
7-19,4-11 Peach Belt
0
Final
3
Flagler Flag
26-3,15-0 Peach Belt
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Lander Lander 24 9 21 (0)
Flagler Flag 26 25 25 (3)
Senior day photo for volleyball
Mallory Bryk

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Rachel Hester

Saints Complete Undefeated Peach Belt Conference Season with a Senior Day Sweep Over Lander

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Flagler College volleyball team closed out the regular season undefeated in Peach Belt Conference play Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 sweep of Lander University at Flagler Gymnasium. Prior to the match, the Saints celebrated seniors Amelia Fitzpatrick, Caity Clancy, Katherine Rank and Gracie Fleming. Flagler completed the sweep, winning 26-24, 25-9, 25-14.
  
QUOTES FROM COACH
"We've really been battling some illness on the team, and I think that showed up today, especially in the first set. No disrespect intended to our opponent, but we made way too many unforced errors, including five service errors to start the match. Having said that, I'm pleased with the way we hung in there to battle back and close out the set." Jeff Reynolds stated.

"I tell our team this all the time: any team can beat anyone on any given night. That's just the nature of volleyball. Good teams find a way, and we did that this afternoon. I think we showed our true character in the second set, but we got a bit complacent in the third set. It's just so important to maintain your focus and intensity from start to finish." Reynolds said.

"We had a goal of winning the regular-season championship, earning the top seed, and being able to host the conference tournament. We accomplished that goal. We have other goals as our season continues and we have to now shift gears and focus on the process that will allow us to accomplish those goals as well. One day at a time, one practice at a time, and in some cases, one rep at a time." Reynolds ended

Flagler vs. Lander
Score: Flagler 3, Lander 0 (26-24, 25-9, 25-14)  
Location: St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Gymnasium)  
Records: Flagler (26-3, PBC 15-0), Lander (7-19, PBC 4-11)
  
OPENING VOLLEY  
  • Marley Middlebrooks recorded her 21st double-double of the season with 11 kills and 13 digs. Middlebrooks added one ace and while hitting .333.
  • Freshman Gia Lowe led the Saints offensively with team-high 15 kills, hitting an impressive .560 and adding five digs.
  • Gracie Fleming recorded six kills and led the Saints at the net with five solo blocks and one block assist, totaling 11.5 points.
  • Katherine Rank and Mar'ley Phillips combined for 14 kills. Rank hit .235 and added three digs, while Phillips hit .250 and contributed one ace and four digs.
  • Setters Bella Law and Jilly Young directed the Saints' offense. Young recorded a team-high 27 assists, seven digs, one ace and one block assist. Law added 12 assists, three digs and one solo block.
  • Amelia Fitzpatrick, Caity Clancy, and Emmi Cheek held down the Saints' defense. Fitzpatrick recorded 12 digs and two aces, while Clancy added eight digs and two assists. Cheek contributed nine digs and one assist.
  
THE DIFFERENCE  
  • Flagler overcame a late Lander rally in the opening set to take a 26-24 victory. The Saints built an early advantage, but the Bearcats battled back to tie the score at 19-19. After exchanging points down the stretch, Flagler regained the lead with a kill from Gia Lowe before Amelia Fitzpatrick sealed the set with a service ace.
  • The Saints took control in the second set, building a 9-4 advantage before extending the lead. Flagler used a dominant scoring stretch to turn an 11-5 lead to a 20-5 advantage. Gracie Fleming made her presence felt at the net with consecutive blocks, while Mar'ley Phillips added back-to-back kills to help fuel the run. The Saints eventually closed out the set 25-9.
  • In the third set, Flagler jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and maintained control despite a last push from Lander. The Bearcats cut the deficit to 20-16 before the Saints responded with a kill from Katherine Rank. After Lander pulled within one point, Marley Middlebrooks delivered a key kill and followed with a service ace to help Flagler regain momentum. Middlebrooks then recorded the match-clinching kill to secure the 25-21 victory and complete the sweep.
 
NOTABLES
  • Flagler finished the regular season with a 26-3 record (.896 winning percentage), making the best regular-season record in the program's 18-year history of NCAA competition.
  • The Saints completed the Peach Belt Conference season with a perfect 15-0 record. This marks the 10th time a team has finished undefeated in conference play since 1994 and the second time Flagler has accomplished the feat since 2021. The 15 conference victories are the most by an undefeated Peach Belt team since Armstrong posted an 18-0 record in 2013.
  • This season marks the seventh time in the past 11 seasons that Head Coach Jeff Reynolds has led his team to a regular-season winning percentage of .800 or better. The Saints' .897 winning percentage is Reynolds' highest since leading Snow College to a 21-2 regular-season recorded (.913) in 2020. That team went on to compete for the NJCAA National Championship, posting a 5-1 postseason record. 
  • Saturday's sweep marks Flagler's 15th straight-set victory of the season, matching the program's highest total in a single season since 2019.
  • The victory also tied a school record with 10 straight three-set victories in Peach Belt Conference play. The Saints' 10 conference sweeps are the program's most since the 2010 season.
  • With the win, Flagler improved its home record to 13-1, recording the most home victories in program history during the rally-scoring era. The Saints' 13 home victories also mark the best home record since finishing 9-0 during the 2011 season.
  • "I couldn't be more happy for our team. They have earned their place here at Flagler College as one of the greatest teams in school history. And to close out our affiliation with the Peach Belt Conference with an undefeated record is truly remarkable. You just don't do that by being lucky. A lot of work and determination has gone into that. We have more work to do. I think our team is looking forward to getting to work on preparing for the post-season." Reynolds said.
 
COMING UP 
The Saints will now turn their attention to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament after completing an undefeated regular season in conference play. Flagler secured the top seed and will host the conference tournament. Additional details regarding the postseason schedule will be announced at a later date.
 
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