Even with 24 kills in the final, Selkridge was powerless to stop the Spartans losing a two set lead and with it the NCAA Championship to Concordia. Photo credit: University of Tampa

The five set thriller was the sixth consecutive title won by Concordia.

Concordia was led by Ellie Duffy and Kayla Koenecke. The two connected for 23 and 20 of the 85 total kills by Concordia in the match. Setter Amanda Konetchy led the Golden Bears with 72 assists. 

Top performers for the Spartans in the title match were Holly Reschke and Danielle Selkridge. Reschke, a junior, led the team with an errorless 26 kills. Selkridge, the recently named NCAA National Player of the Year, connected for 24 total kills in the match. Captain Jessica Yingling was the defensive leader with 21 digs and two block solos. 

In the much anticipated rematch of the 2010 title game, the Tampa – Concordia rivalry picked up with great intensity as Tampa won the opening set 29-27, with Selkridge grounding seven kills

The Spartans ran the momentum into the second frame, opening with a 5-1 advantage. After Concordia battled back to tie the score at 13, Tampa went on a 7-0 run, capped by a service ace by Kahley Patrick. Selkridge once again led the team in kills on the set, adding seven, as Tampa ran away with the second stanza, 25-17.

The match intensified further in the third set with Concordia picking up the 25-23 victory and with the score tied at 23-23 in the 4^th Concordia received the final two points to tie the match at two sets a piece. Selkridge picked up 5 kills

The final set could not have been closer, with Concordia taking the set 16-14. The Spartans had one match point opportunity, leading 14-13, but were unable to finish off the Golden Bears.

To reach the championship game the Spartans had swept the No. 19 University of Indianapolis with Selkridge again leading the way with 18 kills and 3 blocks.

The senior, Selkridge, got the Spartans moving by swinging at a 5-9 clip in the opening set. Tampa grounded 14 kills in total in the frame, good for a .344 attack percentage.

The Spartans carried its strong play into the second frame, defeating the Greyhounds 25-20 and in the final stanza featured high amounts of excitement as the teams switched leads constantly, with Tampa finishing on top, 27-25. Selkridge had back to back kills to finish off the Greyhounds and send UT to the National Championship.