KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Top-seeded Columbia International (S.C.) University moved into the championship game of the AAC tournament on Saturday morning with a 3-0 win over No. 4 University of Pikeville.
 
The loss at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center ended UPike's season for the second consecutive season at 19-13. It was the first semifinal appearance in three seasons in the AAC tournament.
 
Junior setter Chloie Brinton was named to the all-tournament team. On Saturday, she had 20 assists and added six digs on defense.
 
Senior Gracey Lovgren had seven kills to lead UPike, with Junior Lanie Hawley and sophomores Cassidy Rivas and Olivia Chapman having five each.
 
Sophomore Ashtyn Filkins had eight digs to pace the Bears on defense, with Rivas adding seven. Chapman had six blocks, including one solo, while Rivas had five blocks, one solo.
 
Rams 25, Bears 14: CIU led 14-11 when it scored eight of nine points to effectively put the game away. Macy Brooks had consecutive service aces and Mary Norwood recorded two kills, putting the Rams in front 22-12.
 
Rams 25, Bears 20: UPike had two opportunities to put heat on CIU, but neither came to fruition. The Rams used a four-point run to move in front 9-3. A UPike rally pulled within a point at 11-10 before another Norwood kill. Trailing 17-13, a kill by Lovgren started a 4-0 run to tie the score at 17, but a kill by Eevy Bellar started a Ram rally of five of the next six points to pull away.
 
Rams 25, Bears 19: An early five-point run that stretched to 7-1 put CIU in front early. Four Rams had kills in the run, with Bellar recording two. When it ended, CIU had scored eight of the first 10 points of the set. Three straight points pulled the Bears within four at 12-8. A Hawley service ace followed by a Chapman kill pulled UPike within three at 15-12, but they'd get no closer.