CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – After a 2-2 week to start the spring season, the CIU Rams were back in action on Tuesday as they participated in another tri-match. The Rams traveled to Campbellsville (10-4) and took on the Tigers in match one and then battled Indiana-Southeast (10-7) in the second match. Both foes are established NAIA programs and the Rams looked to add two more notches to their winningest season in program history. CIU could not overcome the Tigers in the first match, falling 3-1 but bounced back in match two. CIU defeated IUS 3-0, an impressive win for the young team against a Grenadiers squad that finished 24-7 in 2019. With the win and the loss CIU moves to 16-11 on the season.
GAME ONE: CU 3 CIU 1 (23-25, 28-30, 25-23, 23-5)
- After their long road trip it took CIU set one to settle in as the Rams fell 25-17 to the Tigers. Game two saw Emilia Niedzielska record three consecutive aces forcing two Campbellsville timeouts and giving CIU the lead 16-12. The Tigers battled back, however, as they grabbed a 26-25 advantage and pulled out the 30-28 win.
- CIU pulled jumped ahead 14-7 in game three, but Campbellsville threatened to steal the set, pulling within 1-point 24-23 down the stretch. However, Abbey Kleist finished the game with a kill, and the Rams won their lone set of the match. Playing from behind in set four, the Rams were moments away from tying the match at two games apiece after another Niedzielska ace put the Rams down just 24-23. Unfortunately, the Tigers found a way to get the win 25-23 as CIU dropped the set and the match.
- Abbey Klesit had a season-high 16 kills, while Kira Rymer and Shaniece Steer had 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
- Kamelia De Jesus picked up where she had left in the fall season, recording 42 assists.
- Emilia Niedzeilskia was key to CIU's offensive success as she recorded had a season-high five aces.
- The Rams continue to be solid defensively around the net as they tallied six blocks as a team.
GAME TWO: CIU 3 IUS 0 (25-19, 32-30, 25-19)
- CIU would bookend their match win with dominant games in set one and set three but were challenged by the Grenadiers in set two. CIU found themselves trailing 25-24 in the second set when an error from IUS tied the game at 25-25. Later, Abbey Kleist kept the Rams in it with a kill to knot the game at 30 apiece. Two errors from the Grenadiers and the Rams would have the win 32-30.
- Shaniece Steer was productive for CIU as the freshman had a .387 hitting percentage. Steer also claimed a double-double with 11 digs and 15 kills.
- Gabriela Vega held the IUS attack in check with three blocks, while Dzana Cisic and Fabianne Besosa were solid for the Rams as Cisic had eight digs and Besosa had nine.
- Freshman setter Kamelia De Jesus added 31 assists to her total for the day, while Abbey Kleist provided nine kills and two blocks.
- The win is the first for CIU volleyball against a team from the River States Conference.
What Coach Amber Haver is saying:
"Both Campbellsville and IUS are solid programs with great volleyball. Two tough matches back-to-back after a long road trip to Kentucky, when you are going point for point with highly competitive teams, it's very challenging, mentally and physically. Proud of the grit the girls showed. Both matches were close and made us better as a program. Glad to come away with a win today."
Up Next:
CIU plays their only Appalachian Athletic Conference match of the spring as they battle Point University on Thursday, March 18th, in West Point, Georgia.
