Gadsden State finished second in the Alabama Community College Conference Tournament on Nov. 3, falling to host and top-seeding Wallace State Hanceville in the championship match.
As the state runners-up, the Lady Cardinals (27-7) advanced along with Wallace to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament on Nov. 21-23 in Casper, Wyo. Gadsden also finished as state runner-up in 2011.
After battling back from the elimination bracket with a win over Snead State, the Lady Lions (30-15) won their fifth consecutive championship with a 25-16, 25-20, 26-24 win in the first title match. Wallace-Hanceville then posted a 25-16, 25-17, 25-12 victory in the second championship match.
The No. 2 seed Lady Cardinals had defeated Wallace, 25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 24-26, 15-12, in the semifinal round.
Gadsden State opened the tournament with a 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23 win over No. 3 seed Faulkner State.
Gadsden State’s Devonna Taylor and Lauren Butler were selected to the All-Region 22 first team, while Megan Butler and C.J. Payton received second team honors.
For the tournament with the exception of the Faulkner State match, Taylor had 35 kills, followed by Lauren Butler with 18, Hannah Liverett with 14, C.J. Payton with nine, Collin Nichols with six and Katie Mitchell with five.
Megan Butler distributed 74 assists, while Amy Estes handed out 11.
Tanna Lawson came up with 31 digs, followed by Amanda Young with 26, Lauren Butler with 25, Megan Butler with 23, Nichols with 14, Mitchell with eight and Estes with six.
Megan Butler had five blocks, followed by Taylor with four and Liverett with three.