Eastfield claims first-ever DIII volleyball title

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ROCHESTER, MN – The NJCAA crowned a new national champion Saturday night, as No. 2 Eastfield (TX) captured the 2017 NJCAA Division III Volleyball Championship after defeating No. 1 Harper (IL) 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17) to win its first volleyball national championship in program history at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, MN.

Eastfield swept through the first two rouds, defeating Jamestown (NY) and Central Lakes (MN) and took the first set against Harper before dropping their only set of the tournament. The Harvesters responded quickly and won the final two sets to finish the tournament 10-1.

  • The Harvesters closed out the 2017 championship campaign on a 19 match win streak and an overall record of 28-7.
  • MVP of the tournament freshman Keishla Reyes tallied 33 kills, 22 digs and 16 service aces, while only giving up five service errors in the tournament. In the finale against Harper, Reyes netted a team-high 15 kills.
  • Kallie Caddell of Eastfield and a member of the All-Tournament team, commanded the court against Harper, assisting on 38 of the Harvesters 45 kills. In three matches at the tournament, Caddell tallied 100 assists.
  • Top seed Harper battled through Queensborough (NY) and Columbus State (OH) to reach the national championship game for the second consecutive season and finished the season 36-6.
  • Errors hurt the Hawks as they accumulated 30 attack errors and 10 service errors.
  • Harper's Ellie Burzlaff tied Reyes with a match-high 15 kills. Burzlaff totaled 54 kills in three postseason matches.
  • The championship win for Eastfield marks the fifth national championship in the athletic program's history.