PENSACOLA, FLA - Despite a valorous performance in the Gulf South Conference championship game, the Falcons came up short, falling 3-1 to top seed and 7th-ranked West Florida on Sunday afternoon. The loss ended the Falcons' season at 21-14.

"We really wanted it, especially for our senior, Evelina Teran. She has meant so much to our program and I hate this for her," said head coach Katie O'Brien.  "However, I'm very proud of the effort that they had throughout the tournament. This is where we worked so hard to be and I'm proud of how we persevered through some tough times to play for the title. We also need to work hard this spring, but we have a good foundation for next fall."

The Montevallo volleyball team stood tall against the Argos (32-1), trying to extend their seven game winning streak and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Both teams were riding winning streaks with UM having won 12 of the last 13 matches, and UWF having piled up 27 straight. If not for a five set loss to the Argos in early November, the Falcons would have 13 in a row going into Sunday's match. Something had to give. 

The atmosphere was truly electric, rivaling the noise and intensity of a Division I, Power 5 tournament match. Facing the Argos on their home floor was a challenge, but the Falcons never wilted. The Falcons traded blows throughout the match. In the opening set, UWF hit .400, finding gaps in the UM defense with deadly accuracy. The Falcons had trouble attacking the Argos front line, hitting .188 for the set after having eight attacks blocked and committing six errors. UWF had 17 kills to 12 for UM. UWF claimed the first set 25-18.

In the second set, it was a slugfest through the first 20 points, with neither team managing more than a one point lead. The Falcons finally put some distance between themselves the the Argos with the score tied at 20-all, they scored three straight to take a 23-20 lead. The two teams exchanged points, then UWF crept a point closer to make it 24-22. Allie Dishman secured the set with a kill to even the match at 1-1 with the 25-22 victory. The Falcons flipped the script in the second set, hitting .312, with 14 kills in 32 attempts and only four errors. 

UWF led much of the third set. Trailing by 15-12, the Falcons battled back to within a point at 15-14. Then, an attack error by UWF tied the score at 16-all. The Falcons pulled ahead 18-17 on a setting error by the Argos. The lead seesawed back to UWF when a pair of UM attack attempts were rejected with the score tied at 18. The Argos increased their lead to 21-18 on an attack error by UM. The Falcons only scored one more point the rest of the way and the Argos took the set 25-19 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

In the final set, the Falcons fell behind after standing toe to toe early. With the score tied at 12, the Argos took control going on a 10-2 run to take a commanding 22-14 lead. It would be the knockout punch to put the determined Falcons away. UM tried to rally, cutting the deficit to 22-17, but could not draw any closer as UWF finished the match 25-17.

Teran led the Falcons with 16 kills and eight digs in her final match. Freshman Macy Martin added added 12 kills, while fellow freshman Colton Thompson contributed 24 assists and 10 digs. Junior setter Sav Roys also had double-figure assists for the Falcons with 21.

Two Falcons earned spots on the All-Tournament team. Teran and sophomore Allie Dishman were honored for their performances during the tournament. Teran had 51 kills over the weekend to go with 38 digs, while Dishman had 42 kills and 19 digs.