Cougars upset in national volleyball tournament opener

The Cougars' Juliana Quadrado, left, Luana Branco, center, and Fabiane Nass work a play at the net in Saturday's loss.   ¦  KATHLEEN BUHRMANN/Missourian

COLUMBIA — All season long the Columbia College volleyball team has struggled to maintain a consistent level of play and that continued Wednesday night at Southwell Complex. The No. 6 Cougars dropped their opening match of the NAIA National Tournament to No. 23-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) 30-28, 30-25, 26-30, 30-25. The loss drops the Cougars to 29-8.

Her team’s lackluster effort surprised senior middlehitter Juliana Quadrado.

“I am disapponted and I don’t think I’m the only one,” Quadrado said. “I expected us to come out strong and have a good night but we didn’t.”

The Cougars will play today at 1:30 p.m against Mobile (Ala.) and again at 8:15 p.m against No. 4-ranked Biola (Calif.). Both games will be played at Southwell Complex.