POINT LOOKOUT, Mo - CIU women's volleyball had their first real test at the NCCAA DI Women's Volleyball National Championship in the semifinal match on Friday. It took five sets, but the No. 1 seeded Rams were finally able to secure the 3-2 (25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, 15-12) victory over Mid-America (Okla.). The match featured the Rams' only set losses thus far at the championship as the Evangels took home set three and set four. With the win, CIU will head back to the NCCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship title game for the second consecutive season. 

CIU opened set one looking as good as they have all tournament long but were tested in set two, climbing their way out of a 23-22 hole and stealing a set win from the Evangels. Up two sets to none, CIU found themselves knotted at 23-23 in set three before two attack errors from the Rams gave Mid-America the win and allowed the Evangels back into the match. 

Set four featured a 12-0 run from CIU's opponent as the Rams trailed by as much as 12-1 in the fourth set. CIU was unable to overcome the deficit and dropped set four but was able to bounce back when they needed it most, winning the final set 15-12 on a Hadassah Davis kill to secure a spot in the title match.

Davis led the Rams with a career-high 20 kills becoming the first freshman in CIU history to record 20 or more kills in a postseason match. Kira Rymer and Abbey Kleist each had double-digit kills, with Rymer collecting 14 and Kleist hauled in 11. Notably, Rymer recorded her 600th season kill, becoming the first player to achieve the feat in the short history of CIU volleyball. 

Kamelia De Jesus led CIU in assists with 47 to go along with 23 digs, while Kelcey Mangum led CIU in digs with 35. Lydia Gustafson and Rymer were again stalwart defensively, with Gustafson notching six block assists and Rymer adding five blocks assists to her season total. Both teams struggled in serve-receive, with CIU giving up eight aces and Mid-America allowing seven. 

What Coach Amber Haver is saying: "Glad we were able to pull it out against a solid MACU team that played with a lot of heart. Need to tighten some things up for tomorrow. Hoping for a much-needed night of rest for each of our girls. Grateful for the opportunity to play for another National Championship."

Up Next: CIU will face Trinity International (Ill.) tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 3, in the tournament championship at 1 PM CT.