COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican volleyball team dropped a tight four-set match to top-seeded University of St. Thomas (TX) on Saturday in the finals of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) Qualifying Tournament. With the victory the Celts advance to the 30th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Panthers dropped to the losers bracket in their second match of the qualifying tournament after a four-set loss to St. Thomas. The Panthers fell behind early, but evened the match at one with a 25-16 victory, but dropped the next two sets by the scores of 26-24 and 25-20 to fall to the losers bracket.

The Panthers extended their season with their second three-set victory over Southwestern with victories of 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 to set up a rematch with the Celts in the tournament finals.  

Ohio Dominican, needing two more victories to advance to their first national tournament in school history, got off to a great start with a 25-22 victory in the first-set. The Panthers lost the momentum as they dropped back-to-back sets 25-23. ODU's season would come to an end as they dropped the fourth-set by the score of 25-21.

Leading the way for the Panthers in their final match was outside hitter Rachel Billing (Jr./Anna, OH; pictured) who had a team high 12 kills. Also recording double digit kills were Stacy Rogg (So./Cincinnati, OH) with 11 and Cassie Vome (Jr./Mason, OH) with 10. Ashley Hughes (So./Heath, OH) led the way on the defensive side with 15 digs and Cassie Schroeder (Sr./Columbus Grove, OH) had a team high 23 assists.

ODU earned their second straight 20-win season and finished their last season in the NAIA with a 24-18 overall record.