Brigham Young-Hawaii overcame a five-point deficit in the final game to sweep Truman, 30-21, 30-24, 30-21, in the Division II Women's Volleyball Championship December 7 at West Texas A&M.

The title was the second for the Seasiders, who last won in 1999. A crowd of 1,275 witnessed the championship.

The key to the Seasiders' success was a constant middle attack that disrupted Truman's game plan. Brigham Young-Hawaii's Chun Yi Lin and Ashley Moeai pounded down 38 kills together, one less than Truman's team total.

In the first game, the Bulldogs led early but a 10-3 Seasiders run halted the Bulldogs' momentum. Brigham Young-Hawaii kept the pressure on and forged a 7-2 run to end the game.

Truman showed signs of life in game two when it wrestled the lead from Brigham Young-Hawaii and built a narrow 17-15 cushion. But the Bulldogs could not sustain the effort as the Seasiders crafted a 25-20 lead and continued for the win.

One last run by the Bulldogs, an 11-6 lead in the third game, could not halt the Seasiders from taking the crown.

Truman coach Qi Wang said, "They had a style that we're not used to."

"We couldn't get our timing," Truman outside hitter Shelby Ortwerth said.

For the Seasiders, Lin notched 23 kills for a blistering .611 hitting clip, while Moeai contributed 15 kills for a .357 percentage. Setter Kaala Lo provided 45 assists and 10 digs in the win. Jessica Sears was the only Truman player to post double-digit kills with 11. Bulldogs setter Monica Marlowe distributed 45 assists.

"The team played a very intelligent match tonight and brought its 'A' game," winning coach Wilfred Navalta said.

To get to the championship, Brigham Young-Hawaii defeated Tampa, 27-30, 30-25, 30-26, 30-26. Truman beat Grand Valley State, 30-27, 31-29, 26-30, 30-22.

Named to the all-tournament team were Lin, Yu Chaun Weng, Lo and Moeai of Brigham Young-Hawaii; Truman's Marlowe, Ortwerth and Sears; Carly Mille and Nicole Byle of Grand Valley State; Jess Anne Fernandes of West Texas A&M; Tampa's Ericka Womack and Northern Colorado's Erin Deffenbaugh.

Quarterfinals

BYU-Hawaii def. New Haven, 30-10, 30-15, 30-18; Tampa def. Northern Colo., 30-28, 24-30, 30-24, 32-30; Grand Valley St. def. Edinboro, 30-26, 30-21, 30-22; Truman def. West Tex. A&M, 30-26, 30-28, 17-30, 30-23.

Semifinals

BYU-Hawaii def. Tampa, 27-30, 30-25, 30-26, 30-26; Truman def. Grand Valley St., 30-27, 31-29, 26-30, 30-22.

Championship