By Chris Schmidbauer, Sports Information Director
Toledo, OH -- For second straight year, Owens Volleyball swept their way to a District Championship. The Express didn't drop a set over the two day period down at Sandhills Community College in North Carolina.
Owens began tournament play yesterday, facing off against Patrick Henry in the afternoon. They beat the Patriots in straight sets 25-8, 25-12, and 25-7. Owens would get a short rest before taking on Butler County in the evening match. The Express would again win in three sets, winning 25-15, 25-4, and 25-13.
The Express would play in the Mid-Atlantic District Semifinals this morning, when they took on Sandhills. Owens had swept Sandhills earlier this season, during the Owens Invitational. Much like the earlier matchup, the Express would dominate. They would win in three sets again, 25-18, 25-15 and 25-17.
That would setup another matchup against fellow OCCAC member Columbus State for the District title. Owens and the Cougars have faced each other three times previously, with the Express sweeping the first two matches. The Express won last Saturday in the Region XII tournament, beating Columbus State 3-1. Owens would win for the fourth straight time over the No. 3 ranked Cougars 3-0. They would win 25-17, 25-13, and 25-19 to win the District championship.
Owens is now 40-4 overall, and the team has now won at least 40 matches for fifth straight season.
The team will now have two weeks off to prepare for the National Championship. They will likely be the No. 1 overall seed in the NJCAA Division III National Championship tournament. The tournament will be played in Rochester, Minnesota at the UCR Regional Sports Center for the second year in a row. Owens defeated Eastfield 3-2 there a year ago to win the program's first national championship.