PARAGOULD, Ark. – Columbia College opened American Midwest Conference play with a sweep of Crowley's Ridge on Tuesday night, winning 28-26, 25-15, 25-19. The Cougars improve to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in AMC play. Crowley's Ridge falls to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Columbia returns home to the Arena of Southwell Complex on Saturday, September 19, hosting an AMC Pod against UHSP at 9 a.m. and Williams Baptist at 11:30 a.m.
The opener was the tightest of the three, with Columbia jumping out to an early 8-2 cushion behind kills from Samira Baltazar and Isabella Kincaid before Crowley's Ridge clawed all the way back to tie it at 26-26 late. The Cougars closed it out on a block from Baltazar and Alayna Backes that forced an attack error to seal the 28-26 win.
Columbia carried that momentum into set two, opening on an 8-3 run and never letting Crowley's Ridge get closer than four points the rest of the way in a 25-15 win.
Set three saw the Cougars build an 18-9 lead behind a string of kills from Kincaid and Viola Giangreco. Crowley's Ridge made a late push, cutting the deficit to 24-19, but Columbia closed out the match and the sweep on a Rowan Carr ace.
Columbia out-hit Crowley's Ridge .333 to .263 for the match and held a 48-36 edge in kills.
Columbia statistical leaders:
