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EAST PEORIA, Ill. - For the second time in program history, the Truman Bulldogs can call themselves Great Lakes Valley Conference Champions. In a season that saw both the ups (two four-match winning streaks) and downs (started 3-11), Sunday afternoon provided the highest of highs for the Purple and White. Truman swept McKendree inside the EastSide Centre in front of a strong contingent of Bulldog faithful and made reservations for the field of 64.

"This group has persevered, kept to the process and it paid off," said eighth-year head coach, Ben Briney. "They did an incredible job of executing the game plan and not getting caught up in the moment. We talk about how there are no big moments and they kept their focus and brought home a championship!"

After wins over Drury on Friday in the quarterfinals (3-1) and No. 15 Lewis on Saturday in the semifinals (3-2), Truman capped its remarkable run with a 3-0 victory to improve to 18-16 overall and two games above .500 for the first time this year. McKendree (23-10) was riding a nine-match winning streak entering the title bout and during that stretch, had only lost two sets (27-2). In fact, including Sunday, the Bearcats have only been on the wrong end of a sweep TWICE in 33 matches all season.

The Bulldogs hit an absurd .302, their highest clip in a victory since Oct. 7 at Maryville (16 matches), thanks to 41 kills and only 12 errors on 96 total attacks. On the other side, the Bearcats managed to hit just .125, their worst output since Sept. 10 against Ferris State (25 matches). When these two teams met earlier in the season on Sept. 17 in Lebanon, McKendree won that head-to-head in four sets and outhit Truman .285 to .250. What better way to avenge that loss than with a win and a conference title to boot? Exactly, it doesn't get any better.

Individually, Kayla Bastian put the team on her back and there was no way she was going to let this be the last match of her career as a Bulldog. The redshirt senior has played in every single one of the team's 125 sets this year, but the last three may have been some of her best. Bastian sent home 10 kills to just one error on 21 chances for a ridiculous .429 hitting percentage to go with a match high two service aces.

"This team has played with incredible heart and fight all season," said Bastian. "We trusted in each other through it all and the journey we took here made this championship that much more rewarding!"

In the middle, Natalie Brimeyer may have had the best showing of her young career with nine kills and only two errors on 15 attempts for a .467 hitting percentage to go with nine blocks (one solo, eight assisted). Aiding the onslaught was Savvy Hughes with 36 assists and defensively, several Bulldogs stood strong with Brimeyer. Truman blocked a total of 13 attacks including two solo and 22 assisted, its most since Oct. 29 vs. Saint Joseph's when it racked up 30 block assists. Lauren Wacker and Bastian were the two Bulldogs with at least 10 digs at 13 and 10, respectively.

In the first set, there were three ties in the first eight total points alone. With the score deadlocked at 4-4, McKendree then scored four in a row to go up 8-4 and Briney called a timeout to regroup his squad. Out of the stoppage, the Bearcats continued to apply pressure going up by as many as seven, 16-9, before Truman used a second timeout. That time, the message was received and the Bulldogs came out swinging with a 7-2 spurt thanks in part to both of Bastian's aces and one of her 10 kills. At that point, Truman trailed by two, 18-16, and McKendree built its lead back to five, 21-16. However, despite taking the blow to the body, the Bulldogs rattled off the next six points in a row and were up one, 22-21. After much more balanced play and the final tie of 26-26, Truman scored points No. 27 and 28 to go up 1-0 in the match.

In the second period, there were a combined three ties, but the Bulldogs never completely surrendered their lead. Truman's biggest lead was eight when the set had been won and the Bulldogs ended it on a 5-1 run. They hit a blistering .378 that set with 19 kills and five errors on 37 total attacks. However, for Truman's offense, the party was just getting started.

In the third set, the Bulldogs sent home 13 kills to only two errors on 28 swings for a staggering .393 percentage. Through the first 21 points, the Bearcats controlled the action and were up five, 13-8. Again, it was perfect timing for a Briney timeout and Truman responded by scoring 13 of the next 15 points to go up six, 21-15. After that, McKendree was never closer than five and Truman had sealed the deal.

When the Division II's field of 64 is announced on Monday at 6:30 p.m. CT, the Bulldogs will be one of eight teams competing in the Midwest Region. Regional play begins on Dec. 1 and the top seed in the region will host all seven of the other teams. You can watch the selection show live by clicking HERE.