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Olathe, Kan. – The No.11-ranked Cougars of Columbia College picked up two wins today in the MNU Triangular. After defeating #21 Hastings College in game one, the Cougars kept the momentum rolling as they then defeated (RV) St. Thomas University.
The two wins move the Cougars to 8-1 on the early season. The 8-1 start for the Cougars is their best since the 2018 season.
Game One: Columbia defeated Hastings, 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 22-25, 25-13)
The Cougars took an early lead in set one and never looked back. They lead at 6-1, 18-13, and 22-14. Columbia scored their final three points with two kills from Abby Massengill and a kill from Alayna Rooks. The second set saw the Broncos take a quick 7-1 lead before a tough serving run from Ellie Rockers brought the Cougars back to within one, 6-7. Columbia continued to chip away at the Hastings lead until they eventually took the lead at 16-13 after tough kills from Ellie Rockers and Abby Massengill. From there, the Columbia offense came alive as they used four kills to earn their final six points to win 25-20.
The Cougars trailed from the start in set three as the Broncos had their best offensive performance of the match in the third set. Columbia scored four in a row late and looked to make a comeback, but more kills from the Broncos ended the third set in favor of Hastings, 25-22. In the fourth set, the Cougars held the Broncos to a negative hitting percentage while having the best hitting percentage of the match themselves, rolling to a 25-13 set and match win.
Statistical Leaders:
- Allana Capella: 17 kills
- Alayna Rooks: 12 kills
- Abby Massengill: 10 kills (zero errors)
- Ellie Rockers: 13 digs, nine kills
- Luisa Ferreira: 44 assists, eight digs
- Ana Oro: 15 digs, three service aces
- Aubrey Kohl: 11 digs, two service aces
Game Two: Columbia defeated St. Thomas, 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16)
Columbia started fast in set one and took big leads at 8-2 and then again at 20-11. The Cougars got help from the Bobcats as they had multiple errors down the stretch to help CC take the first set, 25-15. The roles were reversed in set two as STU took the early and big leads and found themselves up 20-16 late in the set. Columbia looked to make a comeback, but it was too late as St. Thomas took the set, 25-21.
Both teams traded points in the third set as it was back and forth until CC built a lead at 18-12, prompting a timeout from STU. The Bobcats capitalized on errors from the Cougars and cut the deficit to just 20-22, but kills from Alayna Rooks helped the Cougars secure the 25-22 set win. In the fourth and final set, Columbia was effective on defense as the Bobcats hit a negative percentage with 13 errors, handing the Cougars the set and match win, 25-16.
Statistical Leaders:
- Allana Capella: 15 kills
- Alayna Rooks: 14 kills
- Ellie Rockers: 13 digs, nine kills
- Sude Gundogan: 11 digs, five kills
- Luisa Ferreira: 35 assists, 16 digs
- Magdalena Bostal: 11 digs
