By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Grand Rapids, MI---The No. 4 Express volleyball team advanced past Schoolcraft College in the loser's bracket final on Sunday, and then defeated No. 2 Oakland Community College to force a winner-take-all championship match against the Raiders. But they ran out of gas in the rematch and finished as the Region XII District E runner-up with a straight set loss.

No. 2 Oakland advances past Owens 25-19, 26-24, 25-14 and earned a berth to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament to be held at Owens Community College on Nov. 17-19.

In the loser's bracket final, Owens beat Schoolcraft College 25-14, 25-18, 25-19. Then, they defeated Oakland 15-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 to force the deciding match.

The Express opened tournament play with a 25-27, 25-14, 25-14, 25-18 win over Mott Community College on Friday, then on Saturday defeated St. Clair County Community College 25-16, 25-15, 25-12 to reach the winner's bracket final against Oakland. That match went four games with the Raiders prevailing 28-26, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21.

Three of Owens' five losses came against Oakland CC this season.

Brittany Egbert (Hopewell-Loudon/Fostoria, Ohio) and Ellie Comes (Southview/Sylvania, Ohio) were named to the Region XII District E All-Tournament team. Comes finishes her Owens career as the all-time digs leader and Egbert finishes her career as second all-time in kills.

Owens finishes the season 45-5 overall for head coach Sonny Lewis. The 45 wins were one short of the 46-win single season record set by the 2000 squad and equaled by the 2002 team. But this Express team set records for fewest losses (5) and best winning percentage (.900) in the program's history.