Sioux City, Iowa – The ninth ranked Columbia College volleyball team saw their season come to an end tonight in the 2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championships where they played against University of Jamestown in a one set tiebreaker to determine who would move on to bracket play on Friday. The Cougars were defeated by the Jimmies, 25-19, in a close matchup from beginning to the end.
 
Despite the Cougars having almost a completely new team this year, returning only two players from the previous season, they had a very successful season under Coach Allison Jones-Olson who was also new to Columbia this year. Earlier in the season, the young Columbia team went through one of the most unbearable things a team could experience, the loss of a teammate. The Cougars found a way to push through the season with the help of the one thing they all had in common and loved, volleyball. Every point, every game, and every match of the season was dedicated to #2 Shelby Meyer.
 
Despite the loss, the Cougars have so much to be proud of this season, including an 11-match win streak, making their 26^th consecutive appearance to the NAIA National Championships, leading the NAIA in national championships appearances, and remaining the winningest volleyball program in the NAIA. Other notable achievements of the season include Coach Jones Olson being recognized as the American Midwest Conference Baden Coach of the Year, senior Kiersten Anderson was named AMC Co-Player of the Year, and freshmen Luisa Ferreira was named AMC Freshmen and Setter of the Year.
 
This marks the end of the season for the Cougar volleyball team, finishing the season with a final record of 29-6.