For Mary Seals and Tiffany Stafford, the heartbreak didn’t last long.
Despite clinching the GCAC championship by handily upsetting the University of Mobile, 3-1, in the conference tournament, the Loyola volleyball team lost to that same squad, 3-0, in the quest for an NAIA Region XII title.
It was a disappointing blow for the ‘Pack, but Seals, accounting junior, and Stafford, psychology senior, were named to the All-Louisiana Volleyball Second Team on account of their record-breaking seasons.
Seals, who was also named to her third consecutive NAIA All-Region Team, led the ‘Pack this year with Loyola single season records of 695 kills and 2115 attacks. She ranks 12th in the nation with 4.86 kills per game.
But, as this modest player has said once before, she tries “not to think of individual accomplishments because it takes away from the team’s accomplishm1ents.”
Stafford, who was named Region XIII Libero of the Year, an award given to the region’s top defensive player, led the ‘Pack in defense with 908 digs, another school single season record. That total was good enough for 23rd in the nation.
“Receiving the honor was a very big surprise,” Stafford said. “It was a great honor and recognition; a great end to the best season I’ve experienced at Loyola.
“Although we fell short in the championship game at the regional tournament, the whole weekend was a winning end to a wonderful season. I will never forget the season that the team and our coaches gave to me, and I will miss the girls and playing the sport at Loyola dearly.”
The season was a success for Coach Tommy Harold and the Lady ‘Pack. They won 13 of their final 14 matches before losing to Mobile in the finals, finishing the season with a 28-12 record.
They also won their first GCAC Tournament Title since 2002, and to date, this was Harold’s best winning season since taking over the Wolfpack in 2003.
But Harold looks ahead to the next season minus seniors Stafford, Sarah Terrebonne, biology junior, Colleen McNerney, psychology senior, and Danielle Posey, mass communications senior. Despite this, she’s raring to move forward.
“We work hard every year. We always want to improve. Next year is a new year, it’s a fresh start, it’s new faces,” Harold said. “Past results don’t always translate into future results, so we’ll have to start anew and see how it goes.”
Briana Prevost can be reached at [email protected].
