Angelo State won the AVCA Division II Volleyball Championship on Saturday in Dallas, defeating Tampa in the final 11-25, 25-18, 25-13, 22-25, 15-9.

Watch full archives of 2021 AVCA Women's DII Championship!

The Belles of San Angelo, Texas, were barely tested prior to the final bout with Tampa, winning all three matches in the pool play round and its quarter- and semifinal matches in straight sets. Tampa, however, brought a 10-match win-streak into the match, and offered much tougher competition.

“I can't even begin to describe how incredibly proud I am of my team,” head coach Chuck Waddington said. “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!”

Angelo State concluded the 2020-21 season on a nine-match win-streak. Tampa — winners of three NCAA Division II national championships, including most recently in 2018 — finished the season with a 13-2 record. 

Oklahoma Baptist, which was ranked No. 1 in the latest AVCA DII coaches poll, was scheduled to compete in the AVCA DII championship, but dropped out at the last minute. 

National No. 3 Hillsdale lost to Flagler and Wingate in pool play, which prevented the team from advancing to the gold bracket, but the Chargers managed to turn things around and win the silver bracket, coming back from down 0-2 to defeat national No. 8 Gannon in the final match.

Harding, ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA poll, went 3-2 at the event to finish in third place. The Bisons’ only losses in Dallas came at the hands of eventual runner-up Tampa and eventual champion Angelo State.

Check out the full results from the 2021 AVCA DII Women's Volleyball Championships

The All-Tournament team featured four Angelo State players: Lindsey Ledyard, Kailyn Gilbreath, Baleigh Allen, and Chloe Patton. Senior setter Ledyard quarterbacked the team to a .219 hitting percentage on the season, collecting 487 assists for the year. Opposite Gilbreath, the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year, led the Belles in kills this season, while senior middle Allen is the team’s top blocker. Libero Patton entered the AVCA championship with 358 digs to her name.

Tampa’s outside hitters and kills leaders Sorrel Houghton and Kalli Cors were also honored, along with Harding setter Sarah Morehead and junior outside hitter Mackenzie Catalina of Texas A&M International.

Watch the full replay of the championship final between Tampa and Angelo State:

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