SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Tyson Event Center) - CIU volleyball tested Southern Oregon University in Thursday's NAIA National Championship Pool Play match, but it wasn't enough as the Rams fell to the Raiders 3-0 (25-21, 33-31, 25-18). The loss concludes CIU's historic season with a 32-3 overall record, the Rams' best season winning percentage in program history. Head Coach Katie Weiss wraps up her first season at the helm for the Rams as the first coach since the inception of CIU volleyball to win an NAIA Opening Round game and reach the NAIA National Championship final site. 

Thursday's match saw the Rams firing on all cylinders in set two. The Rams led in the set at 25-24, then again at 28-27 and 31-30. However, two kills by the Raiders with the set knotted at 31-31 doomed CIU as the Rams were unable to secure a set win. 

Hanah Weiss once again drew on her championship experience as both she and Gracen Norris tallied 12 kills. Hadassah Davis stepped up for the Rams to notch 11 kills, while Melissa Campos Soto led CIU with assists with 21. Fellow setter Kamelia De Jesus stuffed the box score with a double-double, collecting 16 assists and 15 digs. 

Kelcey Mangum totaled 15 digs herself to champion the CIU defensive effort, while Lydia Gustafson added two block assists.

After not recording an ace in game one of the pool plays, Carla Cauchi led the Rams with two aces on Thursday.

What Coach Katie Weiss is saying: "I'm so proud of this team and all that we accomplished this season. We made history and had a blast doing it. We have a lot of areas to grow in in order to compete in this field, and we will work hard to not only get back down to the final site but to win."