Kansas City, MO – For the first time in program history, the University of the Cumberlands Volleyball team will host an NAIA National Championship Opening Round match after earning an automatic berth into the national tournament, the NAIA national office announced Monday evening. The Patriots, who enter the tournament as the #9 seed with an undefeated 34-0 record, will host Columbia International University (S.C.) on Saturday, November 22 at 7 p.m. ET inside the UC Volleyball Gym.
 
This marks the first time in program history that Cumberlands will host an Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament and is the third straight year that UC has qualified for an opening round. The Patriots earned an automatic berth after winning the Mid-South Conference Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons, while also capturing the MSC regular season title for the first time ever.
 
Cumberlands has been dominant throughout the 2025 campaign, posting a perfect 34-0 record, including a 12-0 mark in conference play. The Patriots rank among the NAIA's most efficient teams, hitting .318 as a group while holding opponents to just .091. UC has outscored its opponents 1,486–956 in kills this season, averaging 13.9 kills per set and 1.9 blocks per set, while also tallying over 16 digs per frame on defense.
 
The Patriots balanced attack is led by Sara Zampedri, who averages 3.74 kills per set on a .284 hitting percentage, and Brynnley Bryant, who adds 3.32 kills per set and leads the team with 377.5 total points. Kara Gipson has been a force at the net with a .495 hitting percentage and 73 total blocks, while Savanah Jolly has guided the offense with 10.85 assists per set, one of the top marks in the nation.
 
Their opponent, Columbia International University, earned an automatic bid after capturing the program's fourth consecutive Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament Championship. The Rams enter the national tournament with a 24-6 overall record and a 17-2 mark in conference play. CIU ranks fourth in the NAIA in blocks per set (2.77) and is hitting .224 as a team while averaging 12.0 kills per set.
 
Lindsey Wilson joins Cumberlands as the only teams from the Mid-South Conference.
 
The winner of Saturday's match will advance to the NAIA National Championship Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa.
 
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