SAINT PAUL, Minn. – CIU women's volleyball played their first game of pool play in the NCCAA Championship Thursday evening as they took on NCAA DII Dallas Baptist University. Both teams technically had a win in pool play as Erskine College had to drop out of the championship, giving CIU and DBU a forfeit win. The Rams and Patriots played a tight contest with neither team gaining a clear advantage. However, a dominant fifth set by the Patriots handed CIU their first postseason loss.

How It Happened:
Set One: CIU only led 16-14 but were able to go on an 8-3 run to lead 24-17. Alana Sanjurjo and Gabriela Vega were instrumental in the run, both picking up crucial kills. CIU would win the set 25-20.

Set Two: Despite Kira Rymer coming alive in set two the Rams didn't have enough firepower to overcome the Patriots. DBU knocked off CIU 25-19.

Set Three: The third set of the match was extraordinarily hard-fought and CIU would tie the game on an Alana Sanjurjo kill, 25-25. After a kill by Carla Cauchi and a Patriot error, CIU led 27-26. Unfortunately the set would slip away from the Rams, and CIU fell 29-27.

Set Four: Shaniece Steer played an important factor in set four as the Rams took the fourth set with their backs up against the wall. Andrea Salas picked up an ace during the set and a flurry of attacks from Steer helped CIU pick up the 25-15 win.

Set Five: Dallas Baptist was dominant in the fifth set, and the Rams struggled to get points on the board, falling 15-7.

What Coach Amber Haver is saying:
Our girls came out swinging, in spite of witnessing a season-ending injury with one of our starters, during warm-ups- one minute prior to the match.  That's hard to do as a young team, on a big stage.  We focused on playing CIU level volleyball.  We fell short in the fifth set, but extremely proud of the fight against an extraordinary Dallas Baptist team. Tomorrow's another great opportunity to represent CIU at a National Championship.  We're so grateful for that.

Game Notes:

• Junior setter Mackenzie Sanchez played a solid match with her first 50 assist match of the season while also recording 15 digs.
• Freshman Kira Rymer has found her rhythm of late as she had 17 kills on the evening with a .235 hitting percentage.
• Gabriela Vega continues to be impressive defensively as she had a season-high 17 blocks.
• Alana Sanjurjo had 16 kills, 19 digs, and 4 blocks, while Megan Lung and Shaniece Steer both had double-digit kills with 12 and 10.

Up Next:
CIU will still have a chance to make it to the semi-finals on Friday night if they can knock off the #1 seed University of Northwestern tomorrow at 2 PM.