By Chuck Reherman, Sports Editor – DEL CITY – Southwest Covenant started the day “on their game” and finished that way, winning the Destiny Christian Invitational Tournament Saturday in Del City.
The Lady Patriots, ranked No. 10 in class 3A, improved to 14-5-1 overall, after winning five straight matches. SWCS was 6-0 on the week at Destiny after beating the Lady Wildcats on their home floor two days earlier.
Southwest Covenant went 2-0-1 in pool round play, tying Lawton Christian in the opening round of pool play. The Lady Patriots won the first set 25-14, but lost the second 25-22.
The teams met again in the finals and the Lady Patriots took a 2-1 win. Lawton Christian won the first set 25-23, but the Lady Patriots came back to win the second 25-11 and posted a 25-12 win in the third set to win the tournament.
Macie Noland and Brianna Anduss led the Lady Patriots in kills and blocks in the finals and were named to the All-Tournament team.
After the tie with Lawton Christian in pool round play, the Lady Patriots posted a 25-12, 25-12 win over Liberty Christian (of Shawnee) and beat Cement 25-18 and 25-10 to finish 2-0-1 and advance to the gold bracket round.
In the semifinals, the Lady Patriots beat Tulsa Wright Christian 25-18 and 25-14 to reach the finals.
“We came out a little flat in the first set against Lawton Christian, then got it going in the next two sets,” Lady Patriot coach Samantha Lindsey said. “You could tell we had some fatigue from playing 12 matches in the last seven days. But, overall the girls played well and did what they needed to do to come out on top.”
Two days before, the Lady Patriots faced the host of the tournament, Destiny Christian, in a regular season match and swept the Lady Wildcats in three sets.
SWCS won the match 25-10, 25-13 and 25-17.
Noland led the team with nine kills in the match and Alex Davis had four blocks.
“I am pleased with how we are playing right now,” Lindsey said. “We have had to overcome some injuries this year, but the girls have worked hard and we have been able to build depth by giving the players the added experience.”
The Lady Patriots travel to Amber Pocasset on Tuesday, The JV teams play at 5:30 and the varsity follows. SWCS will host Crossings Christian Thursday with the JV starting at 5 p.m.
