Koalas Hang Right with Conference Champs CIU

COLUMBIA, SC - The Columbia College volleyball team hung tough with rival CIU on Tuesday evening competing with the defending conference champs set by set before falling 3-0.

CIU won the first two sets by scores of 25-16 before the Koalas scored their most points ever against the Rams in the third set before succumbing 25-19. CC tallied 26 kills on the night including 8 in the first set to hit .120. CC put up 10 kills in the second hitting .125 before adding 8 more in the third. CIU registered 17 kills each in the first two sets hitting over .370.

Senior OH Jada Gentry led the Koalas with 9 kills and 6 digs hitting .100 while fellow senior outside hitter Gracie Hicklin recorded 6 kills with an ace, and a block to hit .333.

Senior middle hitter Destiny Brown totaled 7 kills with 2.5 blocks while setter Debra Shephard added 21 assists, 7 digs, 2 kills and an ace. Freshman libero Katie Roberts led the team with 9 digs along with 3 assists and an ace with sophomore DS Dani Goings posting a kill and 3 digs.

Columbia falls to 4-17 overall and 3-11 in the AAC while CIU improves to 24-2 and 14-1 in conference.

The Koalas return right back to the floor Wednesday evening when they host Truett McConnell in a 5:30 pm match.