FORT WAYNE, Ind. - CIU volleyball began it's 2025 campaign at the Onset Invite on Friday. The Rams took on the No. 8 team in the country, IU Kokomo, in match one and then would battle (RV) Indiana Tech in match two.

Match One: CIU volleyball opened its 2025 season against No. 8-ranked IU Kokomo, falling 3–0 (25–14, 25–20, 25–14).

The Rams showed fight against one of the nation's top teams, especially in the second set, where they kept the score tight before Kokomo was able to pull away late. CIU's offense was paced by balanced contributions across the front line, with multiple hitters tallying seven kills apiece.

Despite Kokomo's defensive presence at the net, the Rams kept pressure on with 119 total attack attempts, led by steady swings from Mary Norwood, Katelynn Mundy, and Zcearia James.

On defense, libero Kelcey Mangum anchored the back row with a team-high 18 digs, while Lesiray Nazario Marrero added 11. Setter Macy Brooks directed the offense with 14 assists, while Maria Ferreira made a strong impact in her two sets of action with nine assists.

The freshman trio of Norwood, Mundy, and James each recorded seven kills.

Match Two: The Rams would come up short against Indiana Tech (25-15, 25-13, 25-16).

Another freshman, Eevy Beller, made major contributions as Beller paced CIU with six kills in the match. James led CIU with six kills, while Brooks chalked up 16 assists.

Defensively, the veteran presence of Gustafson made an impact for CIU. Gustafson recorded five total blocks while Mangum chalked up 14 digs.

Up Next: The Rams will take on Cornerstone University (Mich.) and IU East on Saturday, Aug. 22, as they wrap up play at the Onset Invite. Match one will begin at 9 a.m. CT and match two will take place at 1:15 p.m. CT.