SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The No. 9 Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears continued their stellar play at the NAIA Volleyball National Championships Wednesday with a 3-0 win over No. 25 Marian University to move to 2-0 in Pool H play.
Do-it-all senior Hailey Copinga recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Copinga hit .267 in the game and also had four blocks. Former Billings Senior star Naomi Bad Bear led the Bears hitting .273 in the match with five kills and two blocks.
Game one was close throughout. Rocky led 24-23 when libero Ruby Kallenbach came up with a huge dig that led to a Daniella Russell kill to clinch the set. Kallenbach, a Forsyth native, was one of three Bears with double-digit digs (12). Setter Natalie Hilderman led the team with 17.
Russell was second on the team with six kills. Olivia L’Ami added five, while Miranda Gallagher had four.
Rocky won game two 25-18 and was down 12-6 in game three, but the Bears won 19 of the final 26 points to finish off the Knights 25-19.
Rocky is now the only 2-0 team in Pool H. It finishes pool play Thursday against No. 8 Northwestern College, who is 1-1 so far at the tournament. The match begins at 7:00 p.m. MDT. Rocky beat Northwestern 3-1 earlier this season.