MT. VERNON, Ga. - It makes coaches happy when their teams peak at just the right time. That's why Faulkner volleyball coach Rayla Black is ecstatic these days. Her Lady Eagles dominated the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference tournament, sweeping all four matches it played without losing a single game en route to the championship. The Lady Eagles, winners of seven straight, whipped tournament host Brewton-Parker 30-18, 30-17, 30-22 in the title match to improve to 31-19 overall.Faulkner advanced to the championship round with a 30-25, 30-27, 30-27 over Brewton-Parker earlier in the day in the double-elimination event. Brewton-Parker then knocked off Southern Wesleyan in an elimination match to earn the finals' berth.

For the Lady Eagles, it was their second GACC Tournament title in the past three years. The Lady Eagles were paced in the tournament by senior GACC setter of the year Ashley Seng, who had 165 assists and 56 digs in the four victories. GACC player of the year Ann Dickson added 33 kills, 15 digs and 10 blocks. Samantha Blair contributed 44 kills and 11 solo blocks to the weekend effort, while Brittney Barber had 48 kills and 45 digs.

Faulkner is now off to Mobile to play in the NAIA Region XIII tournament at Spring Hill. If the third-seeded Lady Eagles win there, the program's first-ever berth in the NAIA national tournament awaits.

"There's no question we're playing the best we've played all year,'' Black said. "Our team is playing with a confidence level that we haven't had all season. And that's what it will take at the regionals.''

Black was quick to point out the fact that all 10 players were key contributors to the tournament championship. Heather Smith had 49 digs and 34 kills; Hannah Kilpatrick had 47 digs and 35 kills; Jesse Newton had 54 digs; Bethany Hoffner added five kills and three solo blocks; Amanda Banks served six aces; and Lexie Emerson tossed in six digs and five aces.

"We played great this weekend and this team really earned the championship,'' Black added. "This group is the most balanced team we've ever had at Faulkner. They play so well together. It's nice for a coach when everyone on the team plays a part in winning. And that's what we had at the conference tournament.''