Dec. 2, 2005
Columbia and California Baptist Finish in Top Spots in Pool B at NAIA Volleyball
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Seventh-seeded Columbia College (Mo.) and defending national champion California Baptist University finished No. 1 and No. 2 in Pool B to advance to the quarterfinals of the 26th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The tournament is hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University and is being played on campus in Golden Gymnasium November 30 - December 3.
Columbia emerged as the first-place team with a 4-0 pool play record after besting second-seeded California Baptist in four games Friday morning. In their 12th appearance, the Cougars have qualified for the quarterfinals nines, advancing further six of those times. With three national titles to its legacy (1998, 1999, 2001), Columbia will be ready for tough competition. Senior Rose Obunaga averaged 6.5 kills per game through pool play and Luana Branco dished out 12.36 assists per game. Columbia improves to 37-4 this year.
California Baptist finished pool play at 3-1. The defending champs rolled through the first three matches, losing only two games along the three wins. Friday's match against Columbia proved more challenging, as the Lancers fell in four games. Making its ninth appearance, Cal Baptist has made the most of its quarterfinal appearances, winning an national title and finishing runner up in 1992. The third trip was a loss to Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) in 1999. Kayla Van Duyn is averaging 15 assists in pool play.
College of St. Mary (Neb.) took a third-place finish in the pool with a 2-2 record. The Flames (35-8) were making their seventh trip to nationals after winning the Region IV crown. Up against Columbia and Cal Baptist, CSM could not overcome the hitting strengths of the two teams to pull out victories. Ashley Franzluebbers led the team with 3.9 kills per game.
Doane was 1-3 in pool play, with the lone victory coming against Cedarville University (Ohio). In their sixth tournament, the Tigers won only one game outside the Cedarville victory. Allison Weaver had 62 kills to lead Doane (24-16).
Cedarville was one of three teams that did not win a match in pool. The Yellow Jackets easily won the Region IX crown, but could not hit their stride this week. Cedarville was presented with the Buffalo Funds Five Star Award for how the team exhibits the Champions of Character ideal. CU ended its season at 23-17.
POOL B Final Standings
Columbia 4-0; California Baptist 3-1; St. Mary 2-2; Doane 1-3; Cedarville 0-4
POOL B Results
California Baptist def. Doane (Neb.), 3-1 (30-20, 30-21, 28-30, 30-16)
Columbia (Mo.) def. Cedarville (Ohio), 3-0 (30-23, 30-20, 30-24)
St. Mary (Neb.) def. Doane, 3-0 (32-30, 30-23, 30-27)
California Baptist def. Cedarville, 3-0 (30-14, 30-16, 30-24)
Columbia def. Doane, 3-0 30-25, 30-24, 30-25)
California Baptist def. St. Mary, 3-1 (31-29, 25-30, 30-26, 30-23)
Doane def. Cedarville, 3-2 (23-30, 30-27, 30-23, 30-32, 15-13)
Columbia def. St. Mary, 3-1 (28-30, 30-17, 30-27, 30-25)
Columbia def. California Baptist, 3-1 (35-33, 30-28, 20-30, 30-22)
St. Mary def. Cedarville, 3-0 (30-25, 30-28, 30-27)
