POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - CIU women's volleyball began the defense of their 2021 NCCAA DI Women's Volleyball National Championship on Thursday, beginning pool play in the 2022 NCCAA DI Women's Volleyball National Championship. The Rams opened the day with a match versus fellow South Region member No. 4 seeded Carolina University (N.C.) and easily handled the Bruins 3-0 (25-17, 25-6, 25-22). The Rams then played No. 5 seeded Judson in an evening match and found a similar result sweeping the Eagles 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-15). The wins move CIU into the semifinal round on Friday. 

MATCH ONE: CIU 3 CU 0 (25-17, 25-6, 25-22): Most notably, the Rams set two win was the largest margin of victory (25-6) in a set at the NCCAA Championship in program history. Serving certainly played a role in the Rams' dominance as CIU recorded seven service aces compared to none from the Bruins over the course of the match. Four of those aces came by way of Kamelia De Jesus, who collected nine digs and 28 assists. Kira Rymer was on the receiving end of many of De Jesus' sets as Rymer tallied 15 kills hitting at .500 clip. Junior Abbey Kleist was the other Ram with double-digit kills picking up ten. Libero Kelcey Mangum (19 digs) anchored a defensive effort that only allowed a .059 hitting percentage from the Bruins. 

MATCH TWO: CIU 3 JU 0 ( (25-18, 25-17, 25-15): The Rams were just as dominant in match two as they were in their first match of the day, not yielding a set in pool play. A strong defensive presence was again key for CIU as the Rams picked up 16 total blocks as a team, with Lydia Gustafson leading the way with six block assists. Four of the Rams' blocks came from the setter position as Kamelia De Jesus was a force at the net. De Jesus added 33 assists to her stat line and completed a double-double with 12 digs. Abbey Kleist (11 kills) and Kira Rymer (13 kills) again had double-digit kills, but this match, freshman Hadassah Davis also got in on the action with ten kills of her own. Kelcey Mangum led the Rams in digs in the second match with 16 as CIU went undefeated in pool play. 

What Coach Amber Haver is saying: "We set goals before arriving to Branson. The girls worked hard today and tonight to be the only remaining team to not give up a set.  What's really special is that we had an opportunity to get everyone in a match. Each of the rostered players that traveled, were able to  get court time at Nationals. Was glad we got the chance to make that happen.

We were so very blessed by the support we have received in Branson. The Coffee Creations ministry came to our morning match today. It meant so much to us. The NCCAA and the awesome staff at the College of Ozarks have done a remarkable job putting this tournament together. We are especially grateful to our sponsor, the First Community Bank of the Ozarks, for taking such good care of us.

We are looking forward to semifinals tomorrow."

Up Next: CIU will face No. 3 seeded Mid-America (Okla.) in the NCCAA DI Women's Volleyball Championship semifinal tomorrow, Dec. 2, at 3:00 PM CT.