Peach Belt Conference

Boxscore

WINGATE, N.C. − Meg Weathersby (Maitland, Fla./Orangewood Christian) recorded 18 kills, hit .273 and added nine digs to help lead Flagler College to a 3-1 (27-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-14) win over 24th-ranked Wingate University and claim the 2009 NCAA Division II Southeast Region title Sunday night at Cuddy Arena.

Flagler (35-8) advances to the Elite Eight and will face East Region champion Dowling College (29-6) from Oakdale, N.Y. The Saints also extend their winning streak to 28 matches. This is the first national tournament appearance for the Flagler volleyball program.

Justine Burkhardt (St. Augustine, Fla./Winthrop U.) recorded her 16th double-double of the season with 14 kills to go along with a career-high 26 digs and four total blocks. Rachel Stacy (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek HS) added 12 kills and hit .348 for the match and also added five total blocks. Katie Beale (Stuart, Fla./Martin County HS) notched her 21st double-double with 10 kills and 22 digs. Jillian Unitas (Baldwin, Md./St. Paul’s School for Girls) collected a season-high 20 digs for the Saints. Olivia Snipes (Easley, S.C./Easley HS) recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 24 assists and 17 digs. Rebecca Royal (Green Cove Springs, Fla./Fleming Island HS) tallied 24 assists.

Beale, Burkhardt and Weathersby were all selected to the All-Southeast Region Tournament Team.

Stormi Gale led Wingate (36-2) with 16 kills and 13 digs while Jacki Emmenecker added 11 kills. Maggie Malone paced the defense with 26 digs and Liz Willis tallied 33 assists.

The Bulldogs had their 24-match win streak snapped as well as its 16-match home winning streak. The last loss for Wingate at home was to Catawba College in the semifinal round of last year’s Southeast Region Tournament on Nov. 22.

Flagler becomes the second straight Peach Belt Conference team, and second ever, to win the Southeast Region and advance to the Elite Eight. Armstrong Atlantic State became the first PBC team to reach the nationals last year when, ironically, they won the region title at Wingate.

Flagler volleyball Southeast Region champions!