POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — CIU volleyball secured its place in the NCCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals for the fourth time in the last five years, sweeping Mid-America Christian University on Thursday to close out pool play. The only year in that stretch in which the Rams did not reach the NCCAA semifinal was 2023, when they advanced to the final site of the NAIA National Championship.

The Rams (27-7) controlled the match from start to finish in Keeter Gym, defeating MACU 25-14, 25-20, 25-22 behind one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season. CIU hit .426 as a team and never committed more than three attack errors in a set.

Mary Norwood led the Rams with 12 kills on 28 swings without an error, hitting .429 and adding three block assists. Lydia Gustafson finished with nine kills on a .529 clip and three blocks, while Zcearia James delivered 10 kills on .588 hitting along with three block assists.

Katelynn Mundy added nine kills on .500 hitting, and freshman Eevy Bellar contributed four kills and three block assists. Kelcey Mangum posted a team-high 18 digs to help steady the CIU back row. Setters Macy Brooks and Maria Ferreira combined for 35 assists, with Brooks handing out 16 and Ferreira producing 19 assists and 10 digs.

The sweep capped a perfect pool play run for the No. 1 overall seed Rams, who will face the runner-up of Pool B in Friday's semifinal at 3 p.m. ET with a spot in the national championship match on the line.