Box Score Sioux City, Iowa – Today the third ranked Columbia College volleyball team was back in action when they traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, to compete in the 2018 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championships. The Cougars, who are competing in Pool C, fell to the Aquinas College (Mich.) Saints in five sets (22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-13, 11-15) to move to 37-4 on the season and 0-1 in pool play.
After dropping the first two sets, Columbia came out in the third looking to bounce back as they took a 4-0 lead, this time making the Saints use an early timeout. Following the timeout, the Cougar run continued as they led 8-0 before Aquinas was able to get on the board. The Saints made their way back in the set as they trailed 11-8. As the third progressed, the Saints kept it close and tied the game at 18 each. As the Cougars led 20-18, the Saints wanted another timeout. Columbia was able to come out of the timeout and secure a 25-20 victory to trail 2-1 in the match.
In the fourth, it was tied at 4 early. Each team was battling back and forth over the next few plays. Columbia was able to take a 12-9 lead, causing a Saints timeout. The Cougars were able to hold some space as they led 17-12. All momentum was in Columbia's favor as they rolled on to tie the match 2-2 with a 25-13 win in set four, forcing a fifth set.
Just like the fourth, the fifth set was all tied at 4 to begin. As they switched sides of the floor, the Saints held the two point advantage, 8-6. Columbia would call for a timeout as Aquinas led 10-6. The Cougars were in need of a late push as they trailed 13-8, with another timeout called. Columbia made a quick 2-0 run cutting the score to three, as the Saints wanted a timeout of their own. Columbia was unable to overcome the deficit as they dropped 15-11 to the Saints.
The Cougars had three players with double-digit kills including Barbara Sabino (13), Sidney Branson (13), and Kiersten Anderson (12). In addition, Thais Andrade had 17 digs, Manuela Vargas had 14, and Anderson had 10. Vargas also recorded 39 assists in the match.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, November 28th when they continue play in Pool C of the 2018 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championships. Columbia College will take on the Vanguard University (Calif.) Lions at 2 p.m.
The NAIA Network – the association's official video-streaming home – will broadcast all 63 matches (including 48 pool-play matches) live at the 2018 NAIA Volleyball National Championship final site in Sioux City, Iowa. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single-day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while a pool play pass is $24.95 (Nov. 28 – Dec. 1) and a championship package is available at $39.95. You can also buy an All-Championship pass and watch every championship streamed on the NAIA Network in 2018. Buy your All-Championship Pass today.
To find out more information about the 2018 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship, click here.
