Golden Eagles face challenge at volleyball regional

Bren Stevens wears many hats at the University of Charleston.

Not only is Stevens the Golden Eagle head volleyball coach, she's also a professor, the UC senior women's administrator and assistant athletic director.

Stevens added another hat to her collection after she and the Golden Eagles won the West Virginia Conference Tournament with a five-game thriller over top seed Wheeling Jesuit last Saturday.

In the post-championship celebration, Stevens briefly donned a helmet made out of an actual volleyball, which was worn through the match by UC women's basketball coach Sherry Winn.

"It was a little tight ... I've got a big head," joked Stevens. "I did it for the team. They were cheering me on. It was out of character for me."

Under Stevens' guidance, UC is starting to build a volleyball dynasty of sorts, winning the WVC Tournament in three of the last four seasons.

With the victory, UC (28-11) advances to the Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament, where it will play top seed and host Grand Valley State (30-3) on Thursday.

The single-elimination tournament consists of eight teams with the winner advancing to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships. GVSU has won the Great Lakes Regional Tournament five of the last seven seasons.

The last two times UC made the Regionals, it also faced GVSU in the first round and was defeated both times. Coach Stevens is aware of the difficult task awaiting her Golden Eagles but at the same time is excited about the opportunity.

"It's a tough draw but we are looking forward to it," Stevens said. "We know they have a really good team. They are No. 7 in the nation. We know what we are up against but we think we have a good chance to beat them.

"It comes down to the athletes you put on the floor, and we think we have some good ones."

Meanwhile, the players especially the seniors were understandably thrilled about their third WVC title in four years and the opportunity to continue their volleyball career in the Regional Tournament.

"This is a great opportunity to go back to regionals," said UC senior Becca LaBrake, a first team All-WVIAC selection for the second straight year. "It's possible this is one of the most amazing feelings ever."

UC returns to the Division II Regionals after a one-year hiatus.

The Golden Eagles won the WVC title in 2004 and 2005. UC senior Katy Skelley believes this is the best team of the three championships.

"I couldn't ask for a better team," said Skelley. "I've never been on a team like this. This is the best team in my four years. To win three of four (conference titles), I couldn't possibly imagine."

Skelley hopes to cap off a fantastic career at UC with a long run in the tournament. She won the WVC regular season and tournament MVP this season and was freshman of the year in 2004.

UC goes to the next level with experience that comes with being a senior-laden squad. In all, the Golden Eagles have six seniors, and all see considerable time on the court.

Besides Skelley and LaBrake, the other seniors include second team All-WVC selection Roslyn Adams, AmyJane Dill, Ashleigh Fitterer, and Amanda Wakeman.

"The seniors, as a whole, have been a huge blessing," Stevens said. "I was fortunate to sign a great class. To win three of four conference titles is incredible."

Late in the season, things looked a little bleak for UC after losing three of its last five matches. Stevens may have saved the Golden Eagles' season with a few lineup changes that payed off in the tournament.

The coach moved Turill Jami to the middle of the lineup and Dill to the right, giving the team a taller blocker, Stevens said. Adams and LaBrake returned to their original receive line, where they played for four years.

The players, themselves, were very glad of the changes after the mini losing streak.

"The last couple games were tough and we were questioning what was going on a little," Skelley said.

"But coach switched it up a bit and it worked. They were right."