By Gordie Frierson

CIU Women's Volleyball took to the court for their second conference match of the season Tuesday night. The Rams traveled to West Point, Georgia to square off with the Skyhawks of Point University. 

Point 3 CIU 0

Set 1 

The Rams would trail early 7-2 as the Skyhawk took a commanding lead to start the set. The Rams would get as close as  8-4 until Point extended their lead to 15 - 6 forcing a CIU timeout. After two scores from Point, CIU would get back on the board off a Point error and Emma Munday ace.  The Rams would score a handful times off errors and a Megan Lung kill but Point would take the set, 25 - 10.

Set 2

The second set would start out much differently than the first with the Rams grabbing a 7-4 lead of a Lung kill. However, the Skyhawks would jump ahead 11-9 moments later. Errors by Point would bring the Rams right back, tying the game at 12. A strong attack from Lily Tang would keep the Rams close and the score would stay deadlocked at 14. A 6-0 run from the Skyhawks would give Point a 20 - 14 lead until a Lung kill would momentarily stop the run. The Rams would score once more on an error but Point would take the set 25 - 16 on a game-winning block at the net. 
 

Set 3 

CIU  would jump out to a 3-0 lead behind a Lily Tang and Gabriela Vega block. A De'Asija Harden kill but would keep the Rams ahead 5 - 3 but it would be short-lived as the Skyhawks would soar to a 7-5 advantage. The Rams would not go away however, and a Tang block would give the Rams back the lead 9 - 8. After the Rams and Skyhawks exchanged errors, the Rams would create some separation of a Harden kill and lead 16 -14.  A heady play by Dzana Cisic and a Lung kill pushed the Rams lead to 20 -16 forcing a Point timeout. The Skyhawks fought their way back and after a long rally to tie the set at 23. Another Harden kill would give the Rams a 1-point advantage 24 -23 and Point would call time once again. Point would tie the game again but Harden would answer with a kill giving the Rams a 25- 24 lead. Point would go on to take 27 - 26 lead until a Lung block would again tie the game. A few errors later and the Rams would take the Set 29-27
 

Set 4

The set would stay close early on as CIU would hold to a slim 7-6 advantage after a Lung kill. The Skyhawks would not stay behind for long and take a 11 -10 lead. Led by their strong sophomore core the Rams would pull ahead 17-13 off a Skyhawk error. More errors by Point and a kill by CIU would extend the advantage to 21 - 15. Back to back Harden kills off Mackenzie Sanchez assists would give the Rams the set win 25-19.
 

Set 5

Point would start the set off with a kill to go up 1 -0 and would grow that lead to 4 - 1. The Skyhawks continued to separate themselves from the Rams and take 8-2 lead. The Rams would show signs of life after a Lung kill bringing the Point lead down to a 10-4 advantage. A diving dig by Mackenzie Sanchez and block by Aniya Marshall would help the Rams inch closer 12-7.  CIU would get even closer after a Harden kill brought the deficit to 13 - 9. The Rams would get as close as 14-11 but would ultimately fall 15-11, dropping the match 3-2.