KINGSPORT, Tenn. - CIU women's volleyball avenged an early season loss to Bryan College (Tenn.) as the Rams swept the Lions (25-23, 25-10, 25-22) in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament title match on Saturday. The win gives CIU their second consecutive AAC Women's Volleyball Tournament Championship. The Rams also repeat as outright AAC Champions, having won the regular-season title for the third straight season. CIU reached the title game by defeating Reinardt University (25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17) in a semifinal bout on Saturday morning.
SEMIFINALS: CIU 3 RU 1: The Rams were in for a fight from the first serve as the Eagles nearly took set one and then stole set two. However, CIU stayed consistent as they have all season, taking the final two sets to advance to the championship.
Hanah Weiss had a noteworthy performance with 17 kills (.333) and four block assists. As a team, the Rams set the program record for block assists with 30. Gabriela Vega stepped up with nine total blocks, while Lydia Gustafson chalked up eight total blocks. Gracen Norris played an essential role with 11 kills and six blocks while Kira Rymer Attaway furthered the Ram's cause with 15 kills.
Kamelia De Jesus notched a double-double with 25 assists and 17 digs, while Kelcey Mangum led the Rams in digs with 21.
FINALS: CIU 3 BC 0: The last three AAC Tournament championship games have featured the Lions and the Rams. CIU struggled with Bryan late in the first set, trailing 22-21. Two kills from Hadassah Davis and a kill from Vega surged the Rams forward, however, as CIU won the set on an attack error by the Lions. A tight first set turned out to be an anomaly as the Rams were dominant in the final two sets on their way to victory.
Rymer Attaway was in top form in the title game with 13 kills (.481) on her way to being named MVP of the tournament. Weiss stayed hot with 12 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. Davis made her mark on the contest with ten kills and three blocks, while Mangum led the Rams in digs with 18.
De Jesus posted her second double-double of the day with 23 assists and 18 digs as fellow setter Melissa Campos Soto reached 20 assists.
Libero Kelcey Mangum celebrates the Rams win over Bryan
What Coach Katies Weiss is saying: "It has been a great experience in Kingsport this week, and I am humbled to win the conference championship in my first season as head coach at CIU. I can't say enough about our girls. It has been a joy to be around this team all season, and it is awesome to see their hard work rewarded with this accomplishment. I hope this is just the beginning of what will be a deep postseason run."
Up Next: The Rams await their destination for the NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship Opening Round. Host sites will be announced Monday, Nov. 13, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
