Delta volleyball secures first Region XII title in program history
By Blake Metiva
The Delta volleyball team finished its season this month falling just short of an NJCAA National Tournament.
The team started the year slowly, with a record of 10-10 through its first 20 matches, but finished strong with a 6-4 record.
The season was extremely streaky, but by the time the Region XII tournament came around, the women had their eyes on the prize. They met the Lorain County Community College Commodores in the first round. The two teams had met earlier in the season on Aug. 31, and the Commodores came out victorious in four sets. The Pioneers avenged their earlier loss and defeated Lorain in four sets, 25-19, 25-18, 12-25, 25-20. Sophomore Ashlee Lenhard led the team with 13 kills and 17 points, sophomore Sarah Hauck had 27 assists and the team had a .103 hitting percentage.
In the Region XII final, the team met the No. 7-ranked Owens Community College Express. Much like Lorain, Delta had met Owens earlier in the year and was defeated in five sets. Delta dominated the first two sets of the matchup, winning 25-13 and 25-20, showing this wasn’t the same team Owens met earlier in the season.
In the third set, Delta looked to put Owens away, but the Express showed their own fight, taking the set 25-15. Delta had its worst game of the match with a -.087 hitting percentage. But in the fourth set, Delta came back into the positives and brought home the first Region XII title in program history, winning the match 25-22. Lenhard led in kills, and Hauck in assists, while Hauck and Sarah Vandecar tied for the lead in digs.
While the season may not have ended with a trip to the national tournament, it certainly was a season to remember and one to build on for the future!
Delta cheers before returing to the court against the College of DuPage, Nov. 3, 2024; photo credit Norman Corrion. 
Delta’s Corrina Gomez jumps to hit the volleyball back in their last home game of the season against the College of DuPage, Nov. 3, 2024; photo credit Norman Corrion. 
Delta’s Kaylee Keenan hits the volleyball back against the College of DuPage, Nov. 3, 2024; photo credit Norman Corrion. 
Delta’s Emily Hays reaches for the ball before hitting it back while the College of DuPage players jump to attempt a block, Nov. 3, 2024; photo credit Norman Corrion.
