Joplin, M.O. – Arlington Baptist University earned their first NCCAA DII Women's Volleyball National Championship in thrilling fashion, scoring the last seven points in the fifth set to down the six-time defending national champion Bob Jones Bruins. Arlington Baptist trailed 11-8 in the fifth set and would respond to win 15-11 to take the match. The Patriots defense kept them in the match, recording 95 digs led by Britney Gilchrist and Madelaine Blanco who each had over 20 digs apiece. 

#2 Arlington Baptist University 3, #4 Bob Jones University 2

Set One:

• Six-time defending national champion Bob Jones University got off to a strong start with a young roster, relying on their lone senior Faith Blalock to find the early offense. Blalock tallied back-to-back kills to give the Bruins a 7-5 set one advantage. 
• Bethany Estell later tallied her first kill of the match to give Bob Jones their largest lead yet in the first set. Arlington Baptist would use their first timeout trailing 12-8. 
• Hannah Goodwin started to find her stride with a big kill out of the middle to increase the Bob Jones lead to 17-12. The Patriots would use their final timeout trailing by five. 
• The timeout could not stop the Bruins, as they continued their run scoring seven straight points. Stefanie Burke and Emily Lewis capped off the action with a big block to give Bob Jones a 25-17 set one victory. 
• Bob Jones recorded 18 kills to Arlington Baptist's eight in the first set. 

Set Two: 

• In set two, Arlington Baptist was able to find a lead with a 3-0 run. Teagan Hill recorded a kill along with two Bob Jones errors to go on top 10-8. 
• Ashlynn Branch later recorded a crucial service ace to force a Bob Jones timeout with the Patriots leading 16-13. 
• Just like Bob Jones did in the first set, Arlington Baptist did not let the timeout affect them. The Patriots scored three straight to increase the lead to 19-13. Tara Tackett and Kylee Drury combined for a big block in the run to force BJU into their second timeout. 
• Tara Tackett later added back-to-back kills for Arlington Baptist to cap off a 7-0 run. 
• Bob Jones would have no answer for the Patriot attack in set two, as Teagan Hill recorded a set point kill to win 25-18. 

Set Three:

• The young players for Bob Jones started to find their rythym to begin the third set. Hannah Goodwin, Madison Goldstrom, and Elyse Vest each recorded a kill in a 3-0 run to bring the BJU lead to 11-7. 
• A Faith Blalock kill increased the Bruin advantage to 13-9. 
• An Arlington Baptist block would bring them back within one point of the lead, but Bob Jones would hold on with another Faith Blalock kill to win set three 25-22. 
• Both teams were even in set three with hitting percentages above .200 and 15 kills each. 

Set Four:

• A massive block helped Bob Jones to an early 6-2 lead. Faith Blalock continued her dominance as she joined teammate Emily Lewis for the block. 
• Arlington Baptist responded to tie set four at 10 on a kill from Emily Bryce. 
• Bob Jones responded to go back on top by five at 17-13 with an offensive masterclass from Faith Blalock and Emily Lewis. 
• With the Bruins just six points away from a seventh straight national title, Arlington Baptist would go on an 11-4 run to take set four 25-23 and force a set five. The block stepped up for the Patriots, led by Amelia Carr recording a pair in the run. 

Set Five:

• Neither side could garnish a lead more than two in the fifth set as the teams traded the lead three times through the first 15 points. 
• Bethany Estell recorded a kill for the Bruins that shifted the momentum completely and forced an Arlington Baptist timeout. Estell's kill gave Bob Jones an 11-8 lead.
• After the timeout, Teagan Hill, Amelia Carr, and Britney Gilchrist all recorded kills to tie the fifth at 11. 
• Bob Jones would take a timeout, but Arlington would continue to shift the momentum scoring the last seven points of the match to secure the national championship with a 15-11 set five victory. 
• The Patriots would win their first DII Women's Volleyball National Championship in program history and knock off the six-time defending champion Bruins. 
• Teagan Hill led the team with 19 kills, while Britney Gilchrist recorded a team high 22 digs. 

National Player of the Year Olivia Rau from Boyce College was also named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player. The All-Tournament Team and other awards are listed here.
 
About the NCCAA
Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ. The NCCAA currently holds 23 national championship events, along with two national invitationals for 92 member schools across 28 states and two Canadian provinces. For more information on the NCCAA, visit our website, thenccaa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @thenccaa.