McHenry, MD – Garrett College's women's volleyball team has qualified for the NJCAA Division II Region 20 tournament just two years removed from an 0-18 season. 

"It's definitely nice to see hard work pay off," said third-year Garrett head coach Brittany Jackson, who  lauded her players' decisions to come to GC. "I appreciate the recruits who took a chance and bought into trying to make this program something." 

The eighth-seeded Lady Lakers (11-8 overall, 7-4 region) host ninth-seeded Frederick Community College (8-11, 7-8) Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in a play-in match. The winner advances to the region's Elite 8, which features quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship round at Montgomery College this Saturday and Sunday. 

GC defeated Frederick, 18-25, 25-17, 25-15, 15-25, and 15-7, during a regular-season, neutral-court match at the College of Southern Maryland earlier this season.  

"It could be another five-setter," Jackson said of the playoff match-up. "It's just going to be a matter of which team wants it more. 

"It's going to be intense," she added. "I love having a homecourt advantage and a hometown crowd – having our student section and our fans cheering us on. It gives us a little bit more motivation to defend our home court." 

Thelma McGee had 13 kills, Brenna L'Hommedieu added 12 kills, and Karen Cuellar totaled 34 assists and four aces in GC's win over Frederick. Paola Chirino and Kdynze Salinas each produced 10 digs in that match. 

The Lady Lakers lost their final two regular-matches after winning nine of their previous 11 matches. Potomac State College held off the Lady Lakers, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, and 25-10, while Allegany College of Maryland swept GC, 25-20, 25-20, and 25-19.