Volleyball Kicks off Season at Keiser Invitational

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The Columbia College volleyball team opened their season this week playing in the Keiser University Invitational in Palm Beach, Florida. Unfortunately, the Koalas could not pick up a win in the two-day event dropping all four matches in 3 sets each.

Columbia first played quality NAIA foes Grace College, IN (who are receiving votes in the national poll) and a terrific Southeastern University, FL (5-1) team on Thursday before battling with Florida National University (2-5) and Keiser (4-4) on Friday. Grace (5-3) defeated the Koalas 25-7, 25-11, 25-11 while SEU topped CC 25-12, 25-13, and 25-10.  Columbia then battled with FNU falling 16-25, 19-25, and 12-25 on Friday before playing well with Keiser but going down 17-25, 16-25, and 20-25 and totaling 23 kills.

Junior setter Debra Shephard led the team with 56 assists on the week including 19 apiece during the two friday matches as she averaged 5 assists per set while also totaling 24 digs during the four matches. Sophomore libero Katie Roberts then totaled 44 digs and 8 assists on the week including a high of 14 digs in the loss to Keiser. 

Sophomore OH Tamia Fripp totaled 15 kills on the week to lead the team while freshman OH Kameron Turner had 14 kills and led the team with a .175 hitting percentage including a high of 7 kills against Southeastern. Junior outside hitter Maranda Bird also had 13 kills and 8 digs on the week. Senior middle blocker Destiny Brown also added 12 kills and 7 blocks.

The Koalas next return back to SC to face Clinton College in Rock Hill on Tuesday evening at 6 pm at the Rock Hill Convention Center.