COLUMBIA, S.C. – Women's Volleyball Coach Amber Haver picked up a notch in her belt Saturday, as her Rams team defeated the Point University Skyhawks. Point was one of the top teams in the Appalachian Athletic Conference during the 2019 season sporting a record of 19-2 last year in the conference and received an at large bid to the NAIA National Championships. Both teams entered the contest with season records of 1-1 after achieving  a win over the same opponent, Columbia College. Point was able to sneak one set away from the Rams but appeared outmatched the entire afternoon and CIU trumped the Skyhawks 3 sets to 1.

Set One: The Rams and Skyhawks went back forth at the beginning of the set. The tide would turn behind the serving of Kamelia De Jesus who took the Rams lead from an 11-10 advantage to a 17-11 lead. Point made the set interesting, tying the score at 22, but the attacks of De'Asija Harden and Shaniece Steer overwhelmed the Skyhawks, giving the Rams the 25-23 win.

Set Two: Megan Lung showed up in set two, picking up 3 kills during the set. However, errors plagued both teams and the Skyhawks eked out a 25-21 win.

Set Three: CIU began to distance themselves from the Skyhawks during set three as the Rams proved to be the more talented team. Freshmen Shaniece Steer and Camri Goodwin sprung alive with Steer providing 5 kills and Goodwin providing 3 kills during the set. Junior setter Mackenzie Sanchez who was vital to CIU's success all afternoon, assisted on 7 of the Rams 11 set three kills as the Rams dominated Point 25-13.

Set Four: The final set of the match mirrored the first set as neither team could gain a foothold on the other. However, freshman outside hitter Abbey Kleist, who had been relatively quiet all night, showed up just when the Rams needed it most. Kleist recorded 5 kills and a block in the last set, with her final kill breaking a 21-21 tie to give CIU the one-point advantage. Moments later, Steer fittingly capped the Rams 25-23 victory off with an emphatic kill ending the set and the match.

Game Notes:

• Shaniece Steer is proving herself to be an essential asset for the Rams as the freshman recorded 12 kills, 8 digs, and 2 assisted blocks.
• Kamelia De Jesus filled the stat sheet playing as the libero with 18 digs and 4 services aces.
• Ram's setter Mackenzie Sanchez had her first 30-plus assist match of the season, picking up 34 assists.
• The win moves CIU into second place in the South Division behind Reinhardt University.

What Coach Haver is saying:
"Proud of the effort I saw today. After some costly struggles during service reception, we were able to compensate with some defensive pick ups and recover the ball. We corrected some early errors in offense and remained calm under pressure to avoid a fifth set."
 

Up Next:

CIU Volleyball will be back on the court Tuesday, September 29th, at home versus St. Andrews University.