BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford Athletics is continuing the Student-Athlete Spotlight series, presented by Coca-Cola, which, this week, will highlight Lauren Deaton, a junior outside hitter on the Bulldog volleyball team.
 
Deaton led the Bulldogs to a share of a second-straight Southern Conference regular-season title with a dramatic 3-2 win over The Citadel Monday evening in the Pete Hanna Center. The Bulldogs overcame a big deficit in the third set to turn the momentum of the match.
 
"I have never been part of a 10-point comeback, but we just had the will to get it done," Deaton said. "We just knew that there was a lot on the line and we didn't want that to be the last time the seniors played on that court, and we didn't want to go into the tournament with that feeling. We clawed our way back and got it done, it was really fun."
 
The fifth set of the match was a back-and-forth set as well. Deaton talked about the mindset in a dramatic fifth set like that.
 
"Camryn Pierce, one of my classmates, came into the huddle when we were going into that fifth set and she said 'we are sleeping in our own beds this weekend, we're going to play on this court again,"' Deaton said. "That was definitely a thought in our head, but we just wanted it, we wanted it really bad and we went out and got it."
 
The final point of the match came on a kill by Deaton. She talked about the emotion of finishing the match off like that.
 
"It's just been a long year with COVID and injuries and setbacks, and just a lot of adversity this year, I feel like more than other years," Deaton said. "Every team has gone through something similar, but just finally getting to play and winning a championship is sweet all the time, but I think this one was just a little bit sweeter because of everything this team has gone through. The emotion, I don't know where it came from, it just kind of happened. I just love this team and love this program and love everything that it means to me, so the tears just came."
 
The Bulldogs will host the SoCon Tournament Friday and Saturday in the Pete Hanna Center. Deaton talked about the excitement of getting to play the postseason tournament at home.
 
"It's awesome, we love playing in the Pete," Deaton said. "We love playing in front of our fans, we just love playing gritty volleyball. We're excited, we're pumped to get another one."
 
Deaton also talked about what the message was from head coach Keylor Chan after the team clinched a share of the regular-season title.
 
"He was excited for us, but he also knew Citadel was a gritty, really good team and gave them their props, and they deserve those props, they played very, very hard," Deaton said. "But, he's ready to get it done too. He hasn't won a championship here (in the Hanna Center) since 2016, and we want to continue that and continue our legacy here."
 
Deaton has had another strong season, individually as well. She has ranked in the top 10 in the nation in kills per set all season. She talked about the season she is having.
 
"I don't think I've changed too much, I just think my teammates have been fantastic this year," Deaton said. "We have amazing setters, amazing DS's. Everybody around the whole circle, from top to bottom are fantastic people, but their also fantastic players and teammates, and they just put me in the best spots possible. That doesn't really have anything to do with me. I've grown a little bit, I think, but other than my teammates just being the best, that's really the reason."
 
Deaton talked about what it would mean to her to be named SoCon Player of the Year.
 
"It would be cool,' Deaton said. "But, that's not the reason I came here and that's not the reason I play. I play for team championships; I play for moments like last night (The Citadel match). That's the reason I play volleyball. I play it for the sisterhood; I play it for the relationships I get. Yeah, it would be sweet to get that title, but I could do with or without it, honestly."
 
Several other players have stepped up this year as well, including freshman setter Kayla Keshock, who has been filling in for Corinne Meglic. Deaton talked about some of the younger players who have stepped up this year as well.
 
"Keshock's phenomenal," Deaton said. "I don't know very many people, regardless of age, that could be thrown in that position and do what she's done. I think everybody, honestly, has stepped up a ton. Andie Salasky, Sarah Hayes Farley, Kenya (McQuirter), Sinclaire Green. When the lights came on, they were ready and they performed. I couldn't be prouder of them, and we have to continue to step up and encourage Keshock and get her to where she needs to be."
 
Samford will open play in the SoCon Tournament by taking on Wofford Friday at 4 p.m., and Mercer and Western Carolina will meet at 6:30 p.m. that evening in the other semifinal match. The championship match is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the following link: PURCHASE TICKETS.
 
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