Hillsdale, Mich. – Conference champions.

For the first time in program history, the University of Findlay volleyball team can call themselves just that. Taking on the seventh-seeded Ohio Dominican Panthers in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament final, the Oilers came away with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-14) victory in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena on Saturday, Nov. 23.

"I am very proud of the resiliency of this team this season", said head coach Wick Colchagoff. Midway through the year we had some blues, but we believed in ourselves and battled back."

After taking down the top seed and seven-time defending conference championship Hillsdale yesterday, the Oilers were matched up against the Panthers who, since 2010, have been dominated by Findlay, losing 16 of the team's 20 matchups. However, coming off of an emotional tournament win against a rival the day before, getting back up for a championship game is no easy task.

ODU gave Findlay fits early, scoring the first three points of the match, but the Oilers' talent took over as the Orange and Black applied pressure late in the set. Leading 18-16, UF seized control by scoring five of seven points, snagging a first-set victory.

With the pregame jitters now gone, the Oilers locked in and dominated in the final two sets. Findlay opened up a 9-3 lead in the second frame and cruised to a 25-18 win and, in the final set, the Oilers would score 12-of-13 points to go from trailing 10-8 to leading 19-11. That run all but ended the match.

The clinching point was a kill by junior Kenzie Hoelscher whose effort sent her teammates and fans into a frenzy. The Oilers dogpiled in the middle of the court, for the first time, as league champs.

Colchagoff continued, "To win a conference championship at the university that has supported our program for so long feels fantastic."

Sophomore Hannah Miller led the team with 13 kills while Hoelscher and freshman Grace Auer each had seven kills. Hoelscher hit .538 in the match, but also made a major impact with the serve, tallying four aces.

Junior Alana Pohlman was also dominant, hitting .571 while picking up nine kills and two blocks. At the net, sophomore Abria Lomax had four blocks.

Already ranked eighth in the Midwest Region, the Oilers' win yesterday gave the team a solid chance at making the NCAA Midwest Regional. Today's win secures a spot as UF will be the G-MAC's automatic qualifier. Findlay will now await the NCAA Selection Show to see who and where they will be playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That show will air on Monday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 pm on NCAA.com.

G-MAC All Tournament Team

SYDNEY DIXON-Walsh University

MAIZIE BROWN- Hillsdale College

LAUREN LUCAS- Ohio Dominican University

LAUREN DINUNZI- Ohio Dominican University

ALANA POHLMAN – University of Findlay

HANNAH MILLER- University of Findlay

EMMA WHITE-MVP- University of Findlay