Bryan Captures 2021 Volleyball Tournament TItle

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - For the first time since 2013, Bryan is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Volleyball Tournament champion.

Despite dropping the first set,top-seeded Bryan powered its way to a 19-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-17 victory over No. 2 seed Columbia International on Friday to win the 2021 tournament title.

The 10-team, single-elimination tournament was held at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.

Bryan had already punched its ticket to the NAIA National Championship Tournament by winning the regular-season title, so Columbia International also receives an automatic berth as the tournament runner-up.

To get to the title game, Bryan swept No. 5 seed Brenau, while Columbia International swept third-seeded Reinhardt.

In the championship game, Columbia International came out strong for a 25-19 set win. The second stanza was a tight, back-and-forth affair. But Bryan pulled out the 25-23 set win to even the match at 1-all. The Lions roared in the third, using a 7-0 run to open up a 19-10 advantage. Bryan closed the set on a 4-0 spurt in taking the 25-14 win for a 2-1 match lead. Columbia International stayed close in the fourth as it was 16-15 Bryan at one point. However, the Lions closed the match on a 9-2 run to lock up the 3-1 match victory and the tournament championship.

Gigi Ford posted a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs to go along with two blocks and an ace to earn Tournament MVP honors. Teammates Elliott Brock and Raegen Malugin joined Ford on the All-Tournament Team. Also making the All-Tournament Team are Ingrid Ferrari and Alana Sanjurjo of Columbia International, Mary Ellen Enright of Brenau, and Jacoby Sims of Reinhardt.

Game 1 - No. 7 Point (14-15) def. No. 10 Montreat (12-18), 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-23)
Game 2 - No. 9 Milligan (14-18) def. No. 8 St. Andrews (11-25), 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-22)

Thursday, Nov. 11
Game 3 - No. 1 Bryan (24-5) def. No. 9 Milligan (14-19), 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-16)
Game 4 - No. 2 Columbia International (28-7) def. No. 7 Point (14-16), 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-8)
Game 5 - No. 5 Brenau (20-12) def. No. 4 Bluefield (20-11), 3-2 (25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 15-11)
Game 6 - No. 3 Reinhardt (20-11) def. No. 6 Union (18-14), 3-1 (25-14, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20)

Friday, Nov. 12
Game 7 - No. 1 Bryan (25-5) def. No. 5 Brenau (20-13), 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 27-25)
Game 8 - No. 2 Columbia International (29-7) def. No. 3 Reinhardt (20-12), 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-21)
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 1 Bryan (26-5) def. No. 2 Columbia International (29-8), 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-17)