MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The best start in CIU volleyball program history was further solidified on Saturday at the Faulkner Invitational as the Rams moved to 8-0 on the season with wins over Ave Maria (Fla.) and Faulkner (Ala.). CIU dropped just one set on the day with a set three loss to the Gryene. The Rams moved to 2-1 all-time versus Ave Maria and defeated Faulkner in the first-ever match between the two teams.
MATCH ONE: CIU 3 AMU 1 (25-13, 25-16, 19-25, 25-13): The Rams appeared to have the match wrapped up until the Gryene rallied in set three, giving the Rams their only set loss of the Invitational. CIU responded to the adversity by defeating AMU by double-digits in the fourth and final set.
Kira Rymer Attaway (18 kills) and Alana Sanjurjo (12 kills) combined for 30 kills in the match, while Hanah Weiss chipped in eight kills of her own.
As a team, the Rams had a .281 hitting percentage with a total of 60 kills. Melissa Campos Soto played a large role in the Rams' offensive success with the first 40-plus assist match of her career, recording 42 assists.
Campos Soto and Sanjurjo each recorded double-doubles, each player tallying 15 digs; libero Kelcey Mangum spent most of her evening diving after the Gryene attack, leading the Rams with 23 digs.
By the end of the match, the box score had been stuffed by Campos Soto, who added seven kills, three block assists, and two aces to her stat line.
MATCH TWO: CIU 3 FU 0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-17): The Rams held Faulkner to under 20 in each set while forcing the Eagles to a .108 hitting percentage. The Rams, on the other hand, hit .378 while Rymer Attaway notched her season-high in kills with 24 and a .525 hitting percentage.
Veteran Gabriela Vega made an impact in the win with seven kills and five block assists, while Campos Soto evened her assist total from match one again recording 42 assists.
Defensively, Sanjurjo (10 digs) and Mangum (13 digs) protected CIU's side of the net as Abbey Kleist contributed three block assists to the Rams' cause.
What Head Katie Weiss is saying:
"Credit to our girls for keeping their composure after the set three loss to Ave Maria. Two more wins are something to be proud of, and it is great to gain experience in non-conference play. I am looking forward to what this team can accomplish in the AAC."
Up Next: The Rams will stay in the Midlands to play their first conference match facing Columbia College (S.C.) on the road on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
