PENSACOLA, Fla. – After a historic season with many first, the University of West Florida Volleyball teams run through the NCAA Tournament came to a close Saturday night falling in the NCAA South Region Finals to the Tampa Spartans.

In an all-out slugfest the entire match, the Argonauts came out of the gates firing taking set one 25-20 before dropping very close third and fourth sets which proved to be the difference on the afternoon.

"That's not how it played out in our heads," stated Head Coach Melissa Wolter. "It just wasn't a great night for us. That's just two good teams going to battle, and unfortunately one of these teams has to go home and that team was us tonight."

Ending the year with a 35-2 record on the season, this year's team has plenty to be proud of and set the foundation for what is sure to be an even more successful future.

"This has been my favorite team I've ever been on in my life," says Senior libero Ashton Marshall. "You have people who come into the gym every day ready to work and I'm just so grateful for this experience. This program is something special, you're going to walk out of here not just as a better volleyball player but as a better person."

Earning their tenth Gulf South title this season, this year's team accomplished the program's highest national ranking as well as the No. 1 seed in this NCAA South Regional for the first time in the program's 21 seasons of play.

"It's been nothing short of amazing," graduate Tyler Fezzey had to say. "I wouldn't have changed it for anything, and I wouldn't have gone anywhere else. People here just work so hard and that has taught me so much. When I came here I needed to learn how to love the game again, and being around these girls and this team has done that."

This Sweet Sixteen departure is tied for the furthest the Argonauts have ever advanced in a single season while the 35 wins is a new program record. However, despite all of these firsts, the hunger remains to reach deeper into the postseason and continue to compete in the National Finals in the seasons to come.

"To end here now is just brutal," said Coach Wolter. "I never understand why these things happen but it's going to change them and change them for the better. I'll be forever grateful, they created something here that is something I dreamed of when I took this job and their presence will be felt for years to come."

To round out this NCAA South Regional, Veresia Yon, Taylor Vaneekeren, and Madi Cooler all earned All-Tournament nods for their great play this weekend. They joined nine players from numerous other teams in the Regional who all made the All-Tournament team.

How to Follow the Argos: For complete information on UWF Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @UWFVolleyball