CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BOX SCORE | AWARDS | WATCH REPLAY | PHOTO GALLERY | HIGHLIGHTS
Hutchinson, KS – For the 12th time in school history, the College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles took home the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Second-seeded Southern Idaho defeated No. 1 Miami Dade in three sets (25-22, 25-12, 25-13) at the Hutchinson Sports Arena Saturday night.
The championship match was a contest marked by two NJCAA Volleyball powerhouses. This was Southern Idaho's 20th appearance in the NJCAA Volleyball Championship tournament, tying for most in NJCAA history. Of the last three years, either Miami Dade or Southern Idaho has won the championship title. Southern Idaho won their last national championship in 2015, with Miami Dade winning in 2016 and 2017.
Sophomore outside hitter Airi Miyabe was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, after being named to the All-Tournament team at the 2017 championship. Southern Idaho coach Jim Cartisser received the Heidi Cartisser Coach of the Tournament Award, named in honor of his late wife Heidi Cartisser who passed away unexpectedly in 2017.
- The Golden Eagles defeated (15) Laramie County, (7) Tyler, and (6) Seward County to get to the championship match.
- Miami Dade, usually known for their powerhouse offense, was stopped at the net in the championship match by Southern Idaho's block. The Golden Eagles put up 10 total blocks in the three-set final.
- Miyabe had an outstanding final match, posting 23 kills and a 0.370 hitting percentage. She also led the tournament 5.79 kills per set.
- On the defensive side, Southern Idaho libero Kylie Baumert led the tournament with 5.43 digs per set. She was followed closely by Miami Dade's star libero Samaret Caraballo with 5.00 digs per set.
- Miami Dade placed two on this year's All-Tournamnet team - sophomore outside hitter Valeria Alegrias and freshman outside hitter Scherine Dahoue.
- After dropping a heart-breaking five-set semifinal match against Miami Dade, Iowa Western bounced back to take third place at the tournament. No. 6 Seward County took fourth.
- Laramie County found success in the postseason. The Eagles entered the tournament as the fifteenth-seed and ended the tournament winning the ninth-place match.
