CONWAY, S.C. – Leah Hardeman, a Coastal Carolina alumna and four-time conference Player of the Year, helped LOVB Austin capture the inaugural League One Volleyball championship Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., with a straight-set victory over Omaha. 

It's the latest in a long string of championships for the Decatur, Ga., native, who helped the Chanticleers capture six conference titles during her four years at CCU.
 
She led the Chanticleers to four consecutive conference tournament titles from 2014-17, winning the Big South Conference championship in each of CCU's final two years in the league and its first two seasons in the Sun Belt Conference. The Chants also claimed the 2015 Big South and 2017 Sun Belt regular season championships.
  
Coastal made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances behind Hardeman, who was named conference tournament MVP three times.
 
"We are so proud of Leah and her Austin team for winning the inaugural championship with League One," Chanticleers head coach Steve Loeswick said. "She's been such a special player and person since her time at CCU and we knew she would do great things for the sport on and off the court.
  
"We're excited to see all that she can continue to bring to the sport and where the future of LOVB continues to grow the game." 

Hardeman, a three-time AVCA All-Region selection, concluded her decorated collegiate career as the Chanticleers' all-time leader in kills (1,811) and points (2,068). 

"Playing for conference championships and in NCAA Tournaments helped prepare me [play in the LOVB]," Hardeman said. "Playing with different cultures and learning to include everyone that all came from Coastal." 

Fifth-seeded LOVB Austin put together a Cinderella run after losing seven of eight matches to end the regular season.
 
It opened with a reverse-sweep victory over fourth-seeded LOVB Salt Lake then knocked out top-seeded LOVB Atlanta by pulling off another reverse sweep.
 
Sunday was more of the same as LOVB Austin posted a 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 championship victory to secure its place in American volleyball history.
 
"It was amazing to be a part of the inaugural championship," Hardeman said. "We had a tough season, but it's not how you start it's how you finish. After being down 2-0 and coming back to win those five sets twice, we were laser-focused in the championship match."