Jamestown Claims 2022 NAIA Volleyball Championship

(Sioux City, Iowa) [SCHEDULE | RESULTS | BRACKET] - The Battle for the Red Banner concluded on Tuesday night with Jamestown (N.D.) claiming its first NAIA Women's Volleyball title.

Both teams ended the regular season inside the Top 5. Corban (Ore.) worked its way up from 11 and Jamestown (N.D.) only dropped just outside of the Top 5 in the first regular-season poll.

Three of Corban's four losses on the season were to teams that qualified for the NAIA Championship. Jamestown's only two losses came at the hands of NAIA Championship qualifiers.

On both sides of the net, neither team has made it to the championship. Jamestown has made a run to the semifinals the last three years. While Corban has made a historic run beyond what any other Warrior teams have done.

The teams went back and forth at the start of set one but after a tie score at eight points, Jamestown went on a 7-1 scoring run that gave the Jimmies a lead they would see through to a 25-21 set one lead.

Another back-and-forth battle ensued in the second set until Corban created some separation on a 5-1 run sparked by a double block by Allyson Reid and Makayla Raginski. UJ remained close behind and a 7-2 run to close the gap to one point. Corban, however, was able to capitalize on Jamestown errors and with a kill off the hand of Rylee Troutman, the Warriors would tie the match at one set apiece.

Corban opened set three with a 6-1 lead but Jamestown answered with a 7-2 run to tie the score at 10. The teams continued to trade point runs until 25 all when Corban got a kill from Makayla Roginski and an ace from Kealani Ontai to take a one set lead in the match after a 27-25 set three win.

Jamestown gained an initial lead until Corban tied the score at 13 all. Five scoring ties ensued before UJ closed out the set with a kill by Anna Holen and two double blocks to send the match to a fifth set.

After six scoring ties to open the fifth set, the Jimmies created some space with a 5-1 scoring run sparked by Kalli Hegerle. Corban would close the scoring gap to one point but UJ held strong with a double block by Kalli Hegerle and Darienne Johnson to seal the win for the Jimmies.

Anna Holen of Jamestown led all scorers with 23 kills and also posted a double-double with 35 digs. Holen was closely followed by Rylee Troutman of Corban with 21 kills of her own and also recorded a double-double with 35 digs.

This was one of four matches that happened in Sioux City this year and was the third consecutive year the championship has gone to five sets.