LAKE CITY, Fla. (November 6, 2021) - After two days of relative "chalk" at the FCSAA Division II State/NJCAA Gulf District Volleyball Tournament, Saturday's championship finale provided an upset when second-seed Lake-Sumter State College knocked off top-seed St. Johns River State College in four sets. 

Prior to the championship match, the higher seeds were 9-2, including St. Johns River State's 3-0 win over Lake-Sumter State in Friday's winner's bracket final, and No. 3 seed Pensacola State College joined the Vikings and Lakehawks for Saturday's final day of competition. 

Lake-Sumter State eliminated Pensacola State in four sets in Saturday's first match to earn a rematch - and fourth meeting overall in 2021 - with St. Johns River State. 

After the teams split the first two sets, the pivotal third set proved to be most telling. Initially, it was St. Johns River State who appeared ready to seize momentum, racing to leads of 11-2 and 19-9. On the verge of facing a 2-1 deficit, the Lakehawks regrouped and went on a 13-2 run to grab a 22-21 lead.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Xiomara Williams completed the rally with a kill to give Lake-Sumter State the set and a 2-1 lead.

After a nip-and-tuck start to the fourth set, the Vikings found some breathing room, grabbing a 16-12 lead. Once again, however, the Lakehawks dug down and made a run. Six unanswered points netted an 18-16 lead, and they never trailed again.

Williams was joined by teammates Mikayla Simmons and Kayla Chambliss on the All-Tournament team. Dariana Luna, Kendall Hatchett Hope Harrington made the All-Tournament Team for St. Johns River State, whose season ended at 31-5.

The win gave Lake-Sumter State and head coach Amanda Phelps their second Gulf District Championship (2018). 

The Lakehawks (24-6) will move on to the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

FCSAA/NJCAA Gulf District All-Tournament Team

Mikayla Simmons, Lake-Sumter State; Xiomara Williams, Lake-Sumter State; Kayla Chambliss, Lake-Sumter State; Hope Harrington, St. Johns River State; Dariana Luna, St. Johns River State; Kendall Hatchett, St. Johns River State; Darlenis Medina, Palm Beach State; Avery Burke, Florida State College at Jacksonville; Reece Rhodes, Gulf Coast State; Jensen Diggs, Gulf Coast State; Katie Rutland, Pensacola State; Amaya Bazemore, Pensacola State

Most Outstanding Player: Xiomara Williams, Lake-Sumter State