Loyola women’s volleyball stepped into history, capturing the program’s first-ever Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament Championship—a moment senior Samantha Guillotte describes as “unreal,” one that still feels “like a fever dream.”
For a team that spent the year learning, rebuilding, and growing together, the championship wasn’t just a trophy. It was the payoff to months of work, trust, and belief in one another.
“Our goal was to be playing our best by the tournament,” Guillotte said. “I truly believe we are.”
Sophomore outside hitter Clarissa Tucker-Dupree echoed that emotion, calling the moment surreal.
“Being on the court for something that’s literally never happened in our program’s history… it’s something I’ll remember forever,” she said. “There was this huge sense of pride, not only for what we did that day, but for everything we pushed through to get there.”
The Wolf Pack entered the title match calm and confident, grounded by support from coaches, trainers, and fans. Guillotte said there wasn’t one turning point, but she felt the momentum settle in their favor after the third set.
“The energy was just so high on our side and nothing would slow it down,” she said.
Tucker-Dupree said she felt a major shift immediately after dropping the second set.
“Most teams would start to panic, but we didn’t,” she said. “Going into the third, there was zero stress, zero doubt. You could feel everyone decide, ‘no, we’re fine — this is ours.’ That’s when everything clicked.”
What makes this group special, Guillotte said, is how selfless the team is.
“Each girl is willing to put the team before herself,” she said. “We all want it so bad.”
That connection shows up off the court just as much as on it.
“We genuinely care about each other. It’s not fake,” Tucker-Dupree said. “We laugh, we check in, we show up for each other. That kind of trust turns into communication, effort, and being willing to play for more than yourself.”
For both players, the significance of this title extends far beyond stats.
“It’s like breaking a barrier that’s been there for years,” Tucker-Dupree said. “It’s not just a trophy — it’s proof that our program is leveling up. The early mornings, the travel, the losses, the frustrations… all of it finally meant something bigger than one game.”
Heading into the championship match, the mindset was clear.
“We knew we had the talent and the energy to win,” she said. “It was just about executing, point by point. No one was scared. We were ready.”
For Guillotte and the other seniors, the win is deeply personal. Many grew up dreaming of competing in college, and ending their Loyola careers with a championship feels like the “perfect closing” to that chapter.
She’s proud of the legacy they leave behind—setting a new standard for the teams that will follow.
Tucker-Dupree said she’s most proud of how much the team grew throughout the season.
“We had ups and downs, but we never quit on each other,” she said. “I stepped into a bigger role right away compared to last year, and everyone around me elevated their game too. By the end, we were moving like one unit — same energy, same goals, same mindset. That’s what made the championship possible.”
For Loyola, this championship is more than a milestone—it’s a statement about the program’s future. With veterans who set the standard and younger players stepping into bigger roles, the Wolf Pack enters the next stage of postseason play united, prepared, and ready to keep rewriting the program’s story.
