News

Hill College Teams Make Statement at Nationals

11.21.14

The Hill College Rebels volleyball team and men’s soccer team recently advanced to their respective National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournaments. For the volleyball team, it was the second year in a row to go the national tournament. The Lady Rebels played #4 Tyler Junior College in the first round. After losing the first set to Tyler, the Lady Rebels rallied to take the second set. Tyler came back to win the third set. In a game where the winner of three out of five sets advanced, the Lady Rebels rallied again and took the fourth set, forcing a fifth and final set, which Tyler won with a score of 15-9. After moving into the consolation bracket, the Lady Rebels fell to Polk State in four sets. Hill College was one of only 16 volleyball teams to make it to the national tournament.

For the men’s soccer team, it was a year of firsts.  It was their first regional championship win, first district championship win, the first time to ever be nationally ranked and of course, the first trip to the national tournament. The Rebels went into the tournament ranked #11. They played their first game against #2 Illinois Central and won with a score of 2-0. In their second game, they played #7 Trinidad State and the game ended with a tie of 1-1. In order to advance to the semifinals, Hill needed Illinois Central to beat Trinidad State, or not allow them to win by more than 2 goals. Trinidad won that game with a score of 3-0, which eliminated the Rebels from moving on.  The 2014 men’s soccer season logged the most wins ever in a season and the fewest losses, with a final record of 13-5-2. Hill College was one of only 12 men’s soccer teams to advance to the national tournament.

“We had goals at the beginning of the season and to be able to reach them is amazing,” head soccer coach Paul Davenport said. “Winning is a habit and we have done great job on getting into good form at the right time in the season. We always knew that if we could execute in all areas of the field we could be a very solid team; we are showing ourselves the value of faith and patience.”

For more information about Hill College Athletics, visit www.hillcollege.edu/athletics