ST. CHARLES - It was quite the day (and night) for senior catcher Dana Vahey. After being named St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Player of the Year, she added to her hardware by leading Webster to the NCAA Division III Regionals for the second time in three years. For those efforts, she was named SLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Vahey was 2-for-3 with a triple, home run and three RBI as Webster won the 2009 SLIAC Tournament via the 6-1 victory over Maryville Saturday at the Lou Brock Sports Complex on the campus of Lindenwood University. It was the second straight victory over the Saints in the tournament and the fifth time this season Webster reigned over MU.

Webster's rally got started as the first two Gorloks of the game earned walks. The first of those two free passes, Megan Sperry crossed the plate thanks to an error by the catcher. After a pitching switch, Vahey rudely welcomed the new Saints hurler by lining an RBI triple to centerfield. She would, however, be left stranded.

Maryville halved its deficit with back-to-back two-out hits in the second inning.

Vahey's bat was in the middle of the other Gorlok rally as her two-out, two-run home run in the fifth inning bought Webster some breathing room. Two more unearned runs, via an infield error, boosted the WU advantage to five runs.

For there, Sperry did the rest in the circle. After Maryville tallied its lone run in the second inning, Sperry held the Saints' bats at bay. MU managed just three hits over the final five innings, and only had one runner reach second base. She improved to 12-5 on the season, allowing just one run with five strikeouts. Sperry joined Vahey, senior Kelsey Washam and junior Cassie Mosier on the all-tournament team.

Webster will learn its opponent and tournament destination 10 a.m. Monday morning. Fans can join the team at Sunnen Lounge on the campus of Webster University when the Gorloks view the unveiling of the tournament bracket.