Koala Volleyball Falls on the Road at Bluefield

BLUEFIELD, Va. - The Columbia College volleyball team fell 3-0 on the road at Bluefield University Friday evening in the Virginia mountains.

Bluefield got off to a hot start hitting .476 with 11 kills to run past the Koalas in the first set 25-8 ending the set on a 18-1 run. BU then jumped out to an 18-11 lead in the second set before CC went on a 5-0 run to get within two at 18-16 forcing a Ram timeout. However, the Rams would go on to take the second set 25-20 with 11 kills while CC tallied nine.

BU then climbed out to another lead in the third set going up 13-8 before three consecutive Koala kills would eventually pull CC to within one point at 15-14. BU would then make it 19-14 before CC cut it to 20-18. Then, with the Rams up 24-20, Columbia reeled off three straight points to get within one on back-to-back kills from freshman hitter Kameron Turner and senior middle Destiny Brown. However, a Koala attack error clinched the set and the match for Bluefield.

Columbia totaled more kills than the Rams in the third set, 11-9 while sophomore outside hitter Tamia Fripp led the team with 8 kills hitting .174 along with eight digs. Turner also played well from the right side tallying 5 kills and hitting .250 with 7 digs, 2 blocks, and an ace while junior OH Maranda Bird added 6 kills and 2 digs. Brown added 4 kills and a block as well.

Senior setter Lottie Assen led with a season-high 17 assists and 3 digs while sophomore libero Katie Roberts and junior DS Dani Goings combined for 18 digs with each recording nine apiece with Roberts adding an ace.

Columbia falls to 2-13 overall and 2-4 in the conference and in a tie for 9th place while Bluefield improves to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in the AAC to move into 8th place.

The Koalas are right back in action on Saturday when they take on Pikeville in Kentucky at 11 am.