COLUMBIA, S.C.— The Montreat volleyball team traveled to South Carolina to face the Columbia International University Rams in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup Tuesday evening. In the end, the Cavaliers were unable to topple the Rams, who are receiving votes in the latest version of the NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, falling to the home side 25-17, 25-18 and 25-16 in three sets. With the defeat, the Cavs moved to 3-4 overall and 1-4 in AAC play on the year.
 
CIU (15-0, 6-0 AAC) continued its best start in program history by beginning the competition with a 25-17 triumph in the opening set. Montreat captured an early 5-2 advantage after three Ram attack errors coupled with kills from Jada Thomas and Kamryn Wolf. Katie Dickey then added four kills at the midway point of the set as the visitors held even with Columbia International at 14 points apiece. Though the Cavaliers had outhit CIU at that time, the home side utilized a 6-0 run, and ultimately an 11-3 stretch, to win the set by eight. Both sides finished with 12 kills in the frame; however, 10 attack errors from the Cavs gifted points late as the Rams committed just three offensive miscues.
 
In set number two, the Cavaliers claimed the initial three points, but Columbia International responded with five consecutive to lead 5-3. Though kills from Wolf and Dickey in addition to an ace from Lexi Wible, who captains the Cavs with 13 aces this season, put Montreat up 9-8, the home team answered immediately with 6-1 and 6-2 runs that created separation at 20-14. Although Montreat cut its deficit to as few as four, the Rams closed out a 25-18 triumph following a 15-10 edge in kills.
 
The 2-time defending conference champions remained perfect on the year and won their 25^th straight set thanks to a 25-16 victory in the third and final frame. Like the first two frames, the teams battled for the upper hand early in the set. Through seven points, it was the Cavaliers who led 4-3 before the CIU offense propelled the Rams ahead 12-6 after six straight kills. In the end, Columbia International notched 19 third-set kills to Montreat's 10, contributing to the 9-point final.

"We came out and we were ready to compete tonight," head coach Brittany Carpenter said. "We were consistently aggressive, and were able to increase our hitting percentage every set. Tonight, I was able to get a good vision of what areas we need to work on moving forward. Overall, CIU got the best of us, but I am looking forward to getting to see them again later this season on our home court."
 
Individually, Dickey and Wolf led the Cavalier offense with 10 kills each, Katie Alexander had a team-best 14 assists and Wible tallied 16 digs, a team high. Montreat saved its most efficient attacking set for last, but CIU still edged the Cavs in kills (46-32), hitting percentage (.330-.122), aces (4-2) and blocks (6.0-2.0). Overall, the Cavaliers totaled more digs (44-38) in an attempt to stifle the red-hot Ram attack.
 
Volleyball now hosts Carolina University on Friday. First serve inside McAlister Gymnasium is slated for 6:30 p.m.