MO State HS Sports

Cougars Claim Top Spot in Pool G, Advance to Next Round at NAIA National Tournament

volleyball team celebration

Sioux City, Iowa – The No. 16-ranked Columbia College Cougars advanced to the round of eight at the NAIA National Tournament after claiming the top spot in Pool G. After upsetting No. 12-ranked Missouri Baptist University last night, the Cougars pulled out another upset and took a 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 26-24) win over the No. 9-Viterbo University V-Hawks. The Cougars now wait to see their opponent as they crossover with Pool B and will face the winner of the College of Saint Mary and Jamestown University match tomorrow at 10:00AM. 

The Cougars had a back-and-forth battle the entire match against Viterbo. The Cougars used a 12-3 scoring run in the first set to come back and take the 25-22 win. After dropping the second set, the Cougars took the third set and looked to close out the match in the fourth set. 

In the fourth set, Columbia saw a 22-20 lead slip away as Viterbo scored four points in a row to take a 24-22 lead. A kill from Allana Capella stopped the scoring run and put Raven Buckley at the service line. Down 23-24, the Cougars used three attacking errors from the V-Hawks to take the 26-24 fourth set win, and with it, the match. 

Four different Cougars finished with double-digit kills as Allana Capella led the way with 15 kills and five blocks. Abby Massengill added 14 kills on a .323 hitting percentage. 

Sude Gundogan and Ellie Rockers each contributed 12 kills, while Rockers added 11 digs. 

Danielle Prior was a force at the net as she garnered nine kills to go along with six blocks. 

Luisa Ferreira handed out a match-high 54 assists while picking up 11 digs.

Magdalena Bostal continues to impress in the libero jersey as she had a team-high 22 digs; Olivia Skipworth finished with 15 digs.

This article is provided by Columbia Cougar Athletics