Shayne Edwards, Campus Carrier Staff Writer

Lia Batista | CAMPUS CARRIER

Berry College volleyball continues to the NCAA DIII National Tournament. The Vikings will play their first game on Nov. 9 against Hanover College.

The Berry College volleyball team secured the Southern Athletics Association’s conference title on Nov. 5.

The volleyball team defeated Oglethorpe, Millsaps and Birmingham-Southern this past weekend to claim the conference title. The Vikings swept the BSC Panthers 3-0 in the championship match of the SAA tournament. The tournament was a continuation of the Viking’s dominating season. They went undefeated in conference play and are currently 28-6. This is the Vikings first SAA title since 2013. 

“The team’s hard work is paying off, and they have overcome so much this season,” Assistant Coach Katie O’Rourke said. 

The Vikings have also secured their spot in the NCAA tournament. The first round will take place in Atlanta at Emory University. The Vikings will face off against the Hanover College Panthers on Thursday at 3 p.m. Hanover College just won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title, their first conference title in 10 years. 

“The team has played with so much joy and heart this season, and it has led them into the postseason,” O’Rourke said. “I know all the coaches are excited and proud of them.” 

If the Vikings win their match against Hanover, they will face the winner of the BSC and Covenant College match Friday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. 

The quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament will take place on November 16th along with the semifinals on the 17th. The NCAA tournament championship will begin November 18th at 7:00 p.m.