UMFK Captures Division I Volleyball Title

UNIONTOWN, Pa. – Tournament MVP Sharon de Vet recorded a double-double of 15 kills and 12 digs as Maine-Fort Kent defeated Lyon 3-1 to win the 2023 USCAA Division I National Championship at Penn State Fayette on Saturday. 

Lyon (19-18) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on the strength of a 15-3 run early in the first set to win 25-13. Kylee Sabella had 14 kills to lead Lyon, while Isabella Beasley added 12 on the night. 

UMFK (20-7) answered with a 27-25 win in set two. Serving for the second set at 24-20, UMFK saw Lyon rip off the next five points so they would be serving for the second set. The Bengals then scored the final three with a Marti Flores ace evening the match. 

In set three, the Owls scored four of the last five points to take a 30-28 set and a 2-1 advantage in the match. Set four saw UMFK open on an 8-1 run, but Lyon trimmed the deficit to 15-12 after a Beasley kill. That was as close as they got as UMFK won 25-16 and took home the title. 

MJ Rose joined de Vet in double figure kills with 11 for UMFK and she also added six blocks. Kayla Iwata added 30 assists and 19 digs, while Halle Ham had 17 digs. 

Lyon also had Madeline Hopson with 21 assists and 10 digs, while Beasley added 19 assists and 17 digs to her 12 kills. Sabella added 20 digs to go with her 14 kills.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Anastasiya Tsetsko – Bay Path

Kylee Sabella – Lyon

Isabella Beasely – Lyon

Kayla Iwata – UMFK

Halle Ham – UMFK

MVP: Sharon de Vet – UMFK