BELLEVUE, NE – Columbia College's volleyball season came to an end Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 loss to seventh-ranked Bellevue University in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round inside the BU Fieldhouse.

The defending national tournament runner-ups took the match in straight sets (25-9, 25-18, 25-19), ending Columbia College's 31st appearance in the NAIA National Tournament – the most of any program in the nation. The Cougars concluded their season with a 23-15 record, while Bellevue improved to 27-4 and advanced in the tournament.

Columbia earned their automatic berth into the tournament after winning both the American Midwest Conference regular season and tournament titles, finishing with a 17-1 league mark and capturing their 25th conference tournament championship with a sweep of Stephens College.

However, Bellevue, making their 10th straight national tournament appearance and 17th in 19 years, proved too strong on their home court. The Bruins dominated from start to finish, hitting .261 for the match compared to Columbia's .039. Bellevue recorded 41 kills to Columbia's 24 and controlled the net with 14 total blocks to the Cougars' six.

For Columbia College, Viola Giangreco led the offensive effort with seven kills, while Isabella Kincaid and Nazarena Avila each added six kills. Hannah Vogt distributed 13 assists and Taylor Johnson paced the defense with 13 digs while adding two service aces. Rita Marques contributed eight digs in the losing effort.

The Cougars struggled to find rhythm in the opening set, falling behind early and never recovering in the 25-9 loss. Columbia showed more fight in sets two and three, particularly in the third frame where they battled back from deficits and pulled within one point at 7-7 before Bellevue pulled away for the 25-19 victory.