PALATKA, Fla. (November 5, 2022) - No. 2 seed Gulf Coast State College rallied from a 2-0 deficit to knock off fourth-seeded Palm Beach State College in five sets to win the Division II FCSAA and NJCAA Gulf District Championships on Saturday afternoon.
The Commodores will take a gaudy 26-3 record and No. 17 NJCAA ranking to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the Division II Volleyball Championships, November 17-19.
During the regular season, Palm Beach State (13-7) finished first in the Sun-Lakes South Division, but failed to defeat any of the top three seeds from the North, going a combined 0-3 against Pensacola State College, Gulf Coast State and St. Johns River State College. After knocking off South Florida State College in Friday's quarterfinal round, the Panthers eliminated Pensacola State in a five-set thriller Friday evening to earn another shot at the Commodores.
After two sets, momentum was still in Palm Beach State's corner, as the Panthers won 25-21 and 25-14. The Commodores, however, dominated the third set, winning 25-14 to stay alive.
Gulf Coast State evened the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth, then never trailed in the decisive fifth set. Up 14-9, Annabell Chancy recorded the kill off an assist from the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Jenna Schuliger, to cap the comeback and give the Commodores their third Championship in four years.
Schuliger finished with 49 assists and also had 13 digs for the double-double. She and Chancy were joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Elaina Reynolds and Erica Irby.
FCSAA Player of the Year Allison Bryant was brilliant in defeat for Palm Beach State, finishing with 22 kills and 25 digs. She, Dena Otte and Nina Vallesi represted the Panthers on the All-Tournament Team.
Other All-Tournament Team members were: Haylee Rhoads, State College of Florida; Anyaliz Rodriguez, Pensacola State; Paige Patterson, Pensacola State; Emma West, St. Johns River State; and Cassidy Casey, St. Johns River State.
Gulf Coast State's Scott Allen received the Kim Whitney Award, presented to the head coach of the Division II FCSAA Champions.