Minneapolis, MN -- Monday, the North Central University (NCU) Volleyball team hosted the 2025 NCCAA North Region Tournament inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium. The Rams entered postseason play determined to extend their season, first facing the #3-seeded Crown College (CC) Polars in the regional semifinal. NCU battled Crown to another 5-set thriller that they came out victorious in, largely due to career performances from senior Maggie Kohl (20 kills), sophomore Gabbie Ruzek (18 kills), and freshman Abby Rhoades (36 assists). This 3-2 win advanced the Rams to the Region Championship, where they met the #1-seeded Faith Baptist Bible College (FBBC). North Central struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the championship match, falling to Faith Baptist in three straight sets.

Game One Recap:

Set 1: 25–23 | Set 2: 12-25 | Set 3: 21-25 | Set 4: 25-19 | Set 5: 16-14

The Rams came out strong, controlling the net early through senior middle hitter Maggie Kohl, who notched several statement kills in the opening frame. Senior middle/right-side Lexie Semrau and sophomore right-side Gabbie Ruzek each added key swings as NCU built steady leads throughout the set. Freshman setter Abby Rhoades distributed the offense with confidence, while senior libero Maci Tripp anchored the back row with multiple diving saves that kept rallies alive. Despite a late push from Crown, North Central held firm to take the first set 25-23.

Set two proved difficult for the Rams as errors piled up and Crown capitalized on an early momentum swing to take a 7-1 lead. NCU struggled to find an offensive rhythm and saw its hitting percentage dip significantly. Despite solid defensive efforts from freshman libero Maia Scheffler and setter Tatum Olson, Crown controlled the tempo from start to finish to even the match at one set apiece, 25-12.

In the third, North Central regained composure and traded runs in a tightly contested set. Ruzek and Kohl combined for nearly half of the team's kills in the frame, while Semrau added consistency at the net with multiple blocks and kills. However, a few late unforced errors proved costly as Crown edged out a narrow 25-21 decision to take a 2-1 match lead.

Facing elimination, the Rams responded with energy and composure. Rhoades and Olson kept the offense in system, feeding Semrau and Ruzek, who sparked a decisive mid-set scoring run. Kohl tallied five kills in the set alone, while Tripp and Scheffler anchored the backcourt with excellent passing. North Central surged ahead late, forcing a fifth and final set with a convincing 25-19 victory.

The deciding frame was a thriller from start to finish. Neither team led by more than two until Crown strung together a 7-1 run to take an 11-6 lead. The Rams came roaring back with two kills from Kohl and a service ace from Maizy Sundblad. Down the stretch, Crown gave up some costly attack errors, and Kohl continued her offensive dominance. Brianna Brown capped off the night with an emphatic kill to secure the 16-14 deciding set victory.

Game Two Recap: 

Set 1: 25-12 | Set 2: 25-16 | Set 3: 25-18

In the championship match, North Central faced a well-balanced Faith Baptist squad that established early dominance. Despite steady setting from Abby Rhoades and effort from Maggie Kohl and Lexie Semrau at the net, the Rams fell behind midway through the set. Defensive coverage by Maci Tripp kept rallies alive, but unforced errors and strong opponent serving made the difference as FBBC took the opener 25-12.

Set two saw North Central find a better rhythm offensively. Gabbie Ruzek and Semrau each tallied multiple kills, and Tatum Olson connected with hitters in transition. The Rams tied the game midway through the set before Faith Baptist pulled away late on several key scoring runs. North Central dropped the frame 25-16 but showed increased cohesion.

North Central refused to go quietly, exchanging points deep into the final set. Lexie Semrau was a force at the net, recording a season-high 5 blocks in the match. Kohl and Ruzek each landed powerful kills, while Tripp's defensive leadership kept the Rams within striking distance. However, Faith Baptist's efficiency at the net proved too much to overcome as the Rams fell 25-18, concluding the match in straight sets.

Looking Ahead: 

With the conclusion of the NCCAA Regional, the Rams close out their 2025 season.

As always, all fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on women's volleyball and all things NCU Athletics.