DALLAS, Texas – The No. 5 Angelo State Rambelles battled and fought in the final match of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National tournament against the No. 17 University of Tampa Spartans in five sets to be crowned the AVCA National Champions!
 
Angelo State began tournament play on Wednesday, April 14 in pool play as the Belles were grouped together with Henderson State University, Ashland, and fellow Lone Star Conference team Arkansas Fort Smith.
 
Angelo State began pool play against the Henderson State Reddies first, taking the first set over the Reddies 25-16. The Reddies attempted to take the second and the third sets, but the Angelo State were hungry for another championship to put under their belts as ASU defeated Henderson State in sets two and three 25-17 each.
 
In their second match of the day against Ashland, the Belles swept the Eagles in three sets, but not without meeting some fierce competition. Angelo State took the first set over Ashland 25-20 and breezed by the Eagles in the second set, 25-14, but were met with heavy resistance in the third set. Ashland and Angelo State fought for every point in the third set, both teams giving it their all in the opening day of the AVCA National tournament, before the Belles emerged victorious after defeating the Eagles, 25-23.
 
Angelo State began day two in the final game of pool play against fellow Lone Star Conference team, the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions. The Belles came prepared to face the Lions however, as Angelo State quickly took set one, 25-20, over Arkansas-Fort Smith. UAFS came back prepared in set two however in an attempt to defeat ASU, but came up short as the Belles took set two over the Lions, 25-21. Set three became a battleground as Angelo State and Arkansas-Fort Smith both fought tooth and nail to take the set from the other. Angelo State, through perseverance, dedication, and tutelage from Chuck Waddington, powered through the Lions defense and took set three from the Lions, 26-24, to advance to the AVCA Gold Bracket Quarterfinal match and face Flagler College.
 
In the quarterfinal match, the Angelo State Belles quickly took charge of the momentum against the Flagler College Lions, sweeping the Lions 25-15 in all three sets to advance onto the semifinal match, where the Belles would face the No. 9 Harding Bison on Friday, April 16.
 
The No. 5 Belles took charge against the No. 9 Bison in the semifinal match as Angelo State took an early 1-0 set lead over Harding University after defeating the Bison in set one, 25-14. The Bison came back with a chip on their shoulder and tried to tie the sets up in set two, but ASU kept their cool and took the second set over Harding, 25-19, to take a 2-0 set lead leading into the third set. Harding fought hard against the strong Angelo State offense, but the Belles proved too much for the Bison defense as Angelo State took the third set over Harding, 25-21, advancing to the AVCA Final match where the Belles would face the No. 17 University of Tampa Spartans on Saturday, April 17.
 
In the final match of the AVCA National tournament, Angelo State was quickly surprised at the might that the Spartans carried with them, falling to a 1-0 deficit as Tampa claimed the first set, 25-11, over Angelo State. The Belles rebounded however and took control of the second set over the Spartans to tie the sets up at one a piece as Angelo State defeated Tampa in set two, 25-18.
 
 The University of Tampa was the strongest opponent that Angelo State faced all week as the Spartans quickly retaliated in the third set and defeated Angelo State, 25-13, to take a 2-1 lead over ASU. The Blue and Gold fought back hard against the Spartans and tied the match up at two sets each as Angelo State defeated the University of Tampa in the fourth set, 25-22.
 
Angelo State proved that their training and hard work ethic was the tools that they needed to gain the edge over the Spartans in the fifth set as the Belles defeated the Spartans, 15-9, to claim the AVCA Division II Women's National Championship title as ASU defeated the University of Tampa in five sets, 3-2.
 
"I can't even begin to describe how incredibly proud I am of my team," said Head Coach Chuck Waddington. "To navigate a year like this and to finish it off with a National Championship is absolutely incredible. They stayed motivated and together through it all. I can't wait to hang that banner in the Junell!"
 
The Angelo State Belles had four members that were nominated to the AVCA All-Tournament team in Kailyn Gilbreath, Lindsey Ledyard, Baleigh Allen, and Chloe Patton for their performances all throughout the week.