Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute’s women’s volleyball team won the program’s first Region 10 Division 3 Championship on Saturday in Sanford, NC, defeating Central Carolina Community College 3-0 in the semifinals and Sandhills Community College 3-1 in the final.

Caldwell, ranked ninth in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association poll, made quick work of tournament host Central Carolina in the first semifinal, winning in straight sets. In the second semifinal, Sandhills (ranked fifth in the NJCAA poll) defeated Patrick & Henry Community College, also in straight sets.

The championship match between the two nationally ranked top ten teams served as the season’s rubber match, with Caldwell and Sandhills splitting their regular season matches. Caldwell won 3-0 in Hudson on Sept. 15. Sandhills won on their home court in Pinehurst over the Cobras on Oct.7 by a score of 3-2.

Caldwell’s Laney Craig had a total of 52 kills in the two matches on Saturday. She was also named the Region 10 Division 3 Player of the Year prior to the championship match.

The Cobras’ head coach, Brian Harris, was named Region 10 Division 3 Coach of the Year. Josie Chappell and Catherine Pate were named to the All-Region team. Pate was injured in Oct. 7 match at Sandhills and was unable to play in the Region 10 Tournament.

Caldwell advances to the Mid-Atlantic District Championship where they will face Region 20 champions Butler County (PA) Community College. The match will be played at 1PM on Saturday, October 28 with the winner earning a birth to the National Championship Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Nov. 9-11.

Caldwell improves to 20-5 overall while Sandhills’ season comes to an end with a 20-9 record. The Flyers were the defending Region 10 champions.