Smith's kills leads West Florida to victory NCAA.com

CHAMPS

PRESENTED BY TAMPA, Fla. -- For the first time since 2010, West Florida will be playing in the NCAA DII South Regional championship. The No. 6-seeded Argonauts defeated the No. 7 seed Rollins 3-1 (29-27,20-25,28-26,25-23) on Friday afternoon in the South Regional Semifinal match to advance to the regional championship. West Florida was led offensively by UWF senior Lindsay Homme and freshman Corisha Smith. Smith tallied a career-high 18 kills in the win. “I have gotten so much support from all of my teammates this season,” Smith said. “Our passers were on point [Friday night]. It really made it easy for us to get down the kills.” Homme tallied 18 kills as well at a .215 clip and added three blocks in the win. “The last time we played in a regional championship was my freshman year and unfortunately I was injured and couldn’t play,” Homme said. “To see my teammates battle and go five sets with Tampa [in 2010] and see us lose unfortunately makes me want to win it even more for those girls and this program.” West Florida went point-for-point with Rollins early on but the Argonauts would go on to take the first set by a score of 29-27. RC had set point late in the opening set at 25-24 before UWF fought back to take the first set. Rollins would respond in the second set 20-25 and tie the match at one set apiece. UWF defeated RC 28-26 in the third set behind the offensive and defensive efforts of senior Jenny Bellairs. Bellairs tallied six kills at a .750 clip and added a pair of blocks in the set. The Argonauts would go on to clinch the match in the fourth set by a score of 25-23. West Florida led 22-16 late in the set before Rollins responded with a 7-2 run to cut the lead to one point. Homme would go on to tally the final kill of the match off an assist from fellow senior Abby Timmer.

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