Box Score For the first time since the 2021 season, the Snow College volleyball team is returning to the NJCAA National Tournament after winning the Rocky Mountain District Championship last night in Thatcher, Arizona. The Badgers defeated No. 10 Eastern Arizona College to punch their ticket to Clarksville, Tennessee.
 
The Badgers entered the matchup off the heels of the Region 18 Tournament, where, after defeating No. 16 College of Southern Idaho in the first round, they suffered a 3-1 loss in the championship game.
 
As the runners-up, the Badgers earned the right to play EAC, the Region 1 Champion in the Rocky Mountain B District Championship, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the national tournament. Snow College defeated the Gila Monsters 3-2 earlier in the season.
 
The Badgers came out strong against the Gila Monsters and took an early 11-8 lead.  They maintained a slim lead until EAC went on an 8-1 run to take a 21-16 lead late in the set. A 5-0 burst from Snow College leveled the match at 21, but EAC scored the final four points to earn the 25-21 win in set one.
 
The Gila Monsters continued the momentum into the second set and took an 8-4 lead. The Badgers would fight back and eventually tie things up at 18, but EAC went on to win seven of the final 10 points to take a commanding lead, 2-0.
 
With their backs against the wall, Snow College responded by taking a 10-4 lead in set three. EAC would cut the deficit to three points midway through the set, but the Badgers used a 5-1 run to take the set 25-18 and stay alive.
 
The Badgers had to rally from an early 6-1 deficit and tied the set at seven. The remainder of the set was truly back and forth as both teams traded points. EAC took a 25-24 lead, needing just one point to secure the win. Snow College won three straight points to force a fifth and final set.
 
With momentum on their side, the Badgers zoomed out to a 7-2 lead in the race to 15 in the fifth set. They were able to extend the lead to 14-6, and Chloe Leslie recorded the final kill to give the Badgers a 15-8 win in set five and the thrilling 3-2 victory.
 
With the win, the Badgers will now head to Clarksville, Tennessee, for the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since the 2021 season. They will see who they will face in the first round of the tournament during the selection show Sunday. For additional information, visit snowbadgers.com.