CONCORD, N.H. — The NHTI volleyball team wrapped up its YSCC Tournament run with a runner-up finish Sunday, following a semifinal win over Paul Smith's and a hard-fought loss to top-seeded Southern Maine CC in the championship match.
The Lynx opened the day with an impressive 3–1 victory (25–13, 25–22, 20–25, 25–18) over YSCC West Division winner Paul Smith's to advance to the title game. NHTI started hot in the opening set, hitting 40 percent as a team. The Lynx cooled off in the next two sets, hitting 16 and 14 percent, before climbing back up to 32 percent in the decisive fourth.
Sophomore Emma Bernard powered the offense with a match-high 20 kills and 10 digs, while Isabella Sandler added 13 kills and 8 digs, hitting .476. Setter Natalie Thoresen directed the attack with a career-high 41 assists and added 11 digs. Defensively, Samantha Locker anchored the back row with 22 digs, and Brooke Kelly chipped in 8 kills, 2 blocks, and 9.5 total points.
With the win, NHTI advanced to its first YSCC Championship appearance since 2022.
In the title match, NHTI fell 3–1 (21–25, 25–14, 15–25, 15–25) to defending champion Southern Maine CC, as the Seawolves completed an unbeaten conference campaign.
The first two sets were tightly contested, with each team taking one. Southern Maine's offense surged in the third, led by five kills from Mikayla Bellman and four from tournament MVP Lilly Andreasen. The Seawolves converted 16 of 35 attack attempts in the set to regain control.
Southern Maine carried its momentum into the fourth and final set, jumping out to a 13–5 lead. NHTI battled to stay within reach, but the Seawolves closed out the match with a 25–15 win.
Defensively, Dalia Nelson led all players with 13 digs for SMCC, earning the tournament's Outstanding Defensive Player award.
Bernard, who finished the day with 32 total kills, was named the tournament's Outstanding Offensive Player.
"Emma is a very skilled player in all areas of the game," Lynx coach Toni Bailon said. "Her leadership and skill inspired us all season. Her hard work shows on and off the court, and she has deserved all the awards she's earned this year."
Bernard was also named to the All-YSCC First Team earlier this month. The sophomore led the conference in kills per set and ranked third nationally in USCAA Division II.
"Early in the season, we were playing as six individuals on the court," Bailon said. "We spent a lot of time building trust and getting to know each other, and that was important as the season progressed."
The Lynx started the year 3–4 before closing with a 5–2 record since Sept. 28 — a stretch that included two wins over Central Maine, a program NHTI hadn't beaten since 2021.
"Ending up in the finals may have been a surprise for some," Bailon said. "Our staff saw the potential we had, and our players trusted the process. We have a lot of strong players, and we're looking forward to bringing NHTI back to the top."
The Lynx finished the season 8–6 overall and 5–5 in YSCC play, marking a strong campaign capped by a return to the conference title match.
