Koalas Hang Tough with AAC Leader Reinhardt

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College volleyball team put up a valiant and terrific effort but could not overcome the power of the AAC-leading Reinhardt Eagles (GA) on Tuesday night falling 3-0 at home.

RU won the sets via scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 26-24 totaling 43 kills to the Koala's 35 kills. RU hit .287 while CC hit .120. Each team totaled 11 kills in the first set before RU pulled away late to take it. RU raced out to a 18-12 lead in the second set before CC came back to get within three at 24-21, but ultimately could not overcome RU's 17 kills hitting .308. CC had 10 kills in the second set.

Finally, in the third, a back-and-forth set saw Columbia go up by two at 21-19 before RU tied it at 22 apiece. CC then led 24-23 forcing RU into a timeout. However, Reinhardt would go on to win the next 3 points to take the match 26-24 on 15 kills in the third while CC amassed 14 kills hitting .269.

Offensively, the Koalas were led by senior Destiny Brown with her 10 kills and 3 blocks as she hit .238 while consistently going toe-to-toe with the powerful Eagle team. Also posting 10 kills was junior outside hitter Maranda Bird with 10 kills, a dig and a block. Freshman right side hitter Kameron Turner played well also recording 8 kills with a block while hitting .200. 

Defensively, sophomore libero Katie Roberts led the Koalas with 14 digs while junior setter Debra Shephard amassed 34 assists with 5 digs and a block assist. Junior DS Dani Goings registered two aces with a kill and a dig while fellow freshman DS Riley Koellner tallied 7 digs with an ace. Freshman middle Melodi Paige had 2 kills and 3 blocks as well.

Reinhardt improves to 14-4 overall and 6-0 in the conference while CC falls to 2-12 and 2-3 in the AAC.

Columbia will next go on the road to face Bluefield on Friday evening at 6:30 in Virginia followed by visiting Pikeville in Kentucky on Saturday morning.