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Columbia, MO – The 12th-ranked Cougars of Columbia College played host to the (RV) Hilltoppers of Blue Mountain Christian University. After falling behind 1-2, the Cougars fought back to take sets four and five and earn the win to advance them to the final site of the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament.
The win moves Columbia to 30-6 on the season while Blue Mountain ends their season at 26-2. The Cougars will now wait to learn their draw for the final site from the NAIA, which is to be announced tomorrow, November 19th.
In the fifth set, the Cougars scored first off of a kill from Alayna Rooks. Then, a block from Ellie Rockers and Abby Massengill combined with errors from BMC put the Cougars ahead 4-2.
Three more quick points for Columbia saw their lead extend to 7-3, forcing an early timeout from the Hilltoppers. Out of the timeout, both teams traded points until the CC lead was cut to two, 9-7.
Head Coach Allison Jones-Olson called her first timeout of the set to try to stop the scoring run.
Two errors from the Cougars brought the score level, 11-11, prompting the second timeout from Columbia. From there, BMC jumped out in front 12-11, but it was short lived as a kill from Allana Capella tied it up again.
The final three points of the match were scored by Columbia as a block from Capella and Massengill was followed with a kill from Ellie Rockers, and ultimately, another kill from Capella to end the match.
Alayna Rooks set a new career-high with 21 kills to lead the way for CC, hitting .333%.
Allana Capella registered another double-double with 16 kills and 15 digs.
Ellie Rockers had a double-double of her own with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Agatha Emanuelle contributed eight kills with four blocks, and Abby Massengill followed with six kills.
Luisa Ferreira controlled the offense well and finished with 55 assists, 17 digs, and five kills.
Defensively, the Cougars had huge contributions from Magdalena Bostal with 14 digs and Clara Gower with 11 digs.
