MOBILE, Ala. - CIU volleyball wrapped up the 2023 season-opening weekend on Saturday, adding two more wins to their belt at the University of Mobile Tournament. The Rams defeated both the Dillard (La.) and the host school Mobile (Ala.) to start the season 4-0 for the first time in program history.
MATCH ONE: CIU 3 DILLARD 0 (25-9, 25-17, 27-25): Each set told a different story in the first match as the Rams blasted the Blue Devils in set one. The Rams held control in set two before a battle ensued between the squads in the match's third and final set. CIU trailed 25-24 before Alana Sanjurjo lifted the Rams back, recording a kill and then finishing the Bleu Devils with a second kill following a Dillard attack error.
The Rams' offensive success came from a team effort as Sanjurjo (ten kills) and Gracen Norris (11 kills) each recorded double-digit kills, while Kira Rymer Attaway picked nine kills and Hanah Weiss notched eight. The Rams were stalwart defensively, with Gabriela Vega and Gracen Norris each tallying three blocks, while CIU held Dillard to a .087 hitting percentage.
Melissa Campos Soto recorded 20 assists, while fellow setter Kamelia De Jesus chipped in 14 assists of her own.
The Rams spread their digs across the box score as Kelcey Mangum led the way with 11.
Lexabel Rojas continued a strong tournament serving the ball as the junior added three aces to the Rams' win.
MATCH TWO: MOBILE 2 CIU 3 (14-25, 26-24, 25-22, 18-25, 8-15): The Rams' most competitive and final match of the weekend came against Southern States volleyball power Mobile. In a matchup of Rams versus Rams, CIU had to battle back from a 2-1 deficit to take a decisive set-five win over the tournament host school.
Transfer junior Hanah Weiss stepped up in a big way in the match, recording her CIU career-high in kills with 18. The Rams had two other players in double-digit kills as Sanjurjo posted 15, and Rymer Attaway added 11. Sanjurjo was a force for CIU, adding 19 digs and five aces to complement a stellar overall performance.
Despite the Rams' firepower on offense, the CIU defense at the net changed the tide of the match. Vega led the Rams with five blocks, while Weiss and Lydia Gustafson each had four.
Campos Soto served the Rams as CIU's primary setter with a career-high 30 assists, while Mangum led the team from the Libero spot with 22 digs.
CIU forced 33 attack errors from Mobile, resulting in a .106 hitting percentage for the host school.
What Coach Katie Weiss is saying:
"Obviously, I am pleased to see us come away from this weekend with a 4-0 record; however, more importantly, I saw our team step up defensively and overcome adversity against a formidable opponent on the final day of the tournament. There is a lot of work to do this coming week as we prepare for next weekend. Hopefully, these wins will give us some momentum as we move deeper into the season."
Up next:
CIU heads back to Alabama on Friday, Sept. 1, where they will turn around and face Mobile (11 a.m. CT) yet again to get things going at the Faulkner Invitational in Montgomery.
