COLUMBIA - For the first time in program history, on Saturday, CIU women's volleyball advanced past the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, besting No. 24 Bethel (Ind.) 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 26-24, 25-19). The Rams performed well in front of a packed Moore Fitness Center, avenging last season's opening-round loss to the same Bethel team. 

Freshman Gracen Norris was unfazed by the moment, with 12 kills and a .308 hitting percentage. Norris was hitting a .1000 after the first set, in which the Rams dismantled the Pilots 25-15. Set two was the only set that stood between the Rams and a sweep in the afternoon match. CIU led 22-18 in the second before the Pilots closed the set on a 7-0 run. The final two sets both went the Ram's way, much to the excitement of the home crowd.

Kira Rymer Attaway was the other Rams in double-figure kills with ten, while Hanah Weiss was formidable with eight kills of her own. Lydia Gustafson was superb for the Rams, with five kills (.714) and six total blocks. CIU totaled 14 blocks (five solo blocks and 18 block assists) as Gaberial Vega led the way with seven total denials. 

Setters Kamelia De Jesus and Lexabel Rojas each posted double-doubles. De Jesus notched 22 assists and 16 digs, while Rojas tallied 24 assists and 11 digs. Kelcey Mangum headlined CIU's defensive effort with 24 digs. 

Alana Sanjurjo passed the 1,000 career dig milestone with eight digs in the afternoon. She is the only player in the CIU record books with 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills. 

The Rams move to 32-1 on the season with the win and 1-0 against ranked opponents in 2023. 

Hear from Coach Katie Weiss postgame: 

Up Next: The Rams will head to the NAIA National Championship final site of Sioux City, Iowa, where they will begin pool play on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The pool play schedule will be announced by the NAIA on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 5:00 p.m. CT