The Columbia Cougars volleyball team went 3-0 in pool play and was rewarded with a first round bye in the opening round of the NAIA National Volleyball Tournament in Sioux City, IA.
No. 9 Biola (Calif.) pulled off a stunning comeback win over No. 4 Embry-Riddle (Fla.), who fell to 2-1 in pool play. Biola fought back from an 0-2 deficit, taking the final three sets and the match, 17-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-20, 17-15. Biola’s upset of Embry-Riddle opened the door for No. 5 Columbia to grab a first-round bye in the single-elimination bracket. The Cougars went unbeaten in Pool E, concluding pool play with a 26-24, 26-28, 25-19, 25-22 victory over No. 8 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). Four Columbia players – Paula Ferreira (11), Vesna Trivunovic (11), Kelly Corkum (10) and Ola Shawky (10) – posted double-figure kill totals.
The bracket portion of the National Championship resumes on Friday at 10 a.m. CST as first-round single-elimination action ensues. The Cougars will play with winner of Rocky Mountain (Mont.) and College of Idaho at 5:45 p.m. CST. Semifinal and championship matches will be held on Saturday.