Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Volleyball program saw its season come to an end in the Opening Round of the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon inside Puckett Field House. 

The Eagles fell to the Saint Xavier Cougars in a five-set thriller by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 27-29, and 9-15. Central concludes its season with a final record of 21-9, while the Cougars improve to 24-8 and advance to the Final Site in Sioux City, Iowa next week. 

CMU made quick work of the first two sets, winning convincingly by scores of 25-15 and 25-18 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. 

However, Central hit only .103 in the third set and the Cougars battled back to take set three, 25-21. Both sides battled it out and set four, with Saint Xavier just edging CMU 29-27. 

The Cougars closed the match out in the fifth set, hitting .438 to punch their ticket to the Final Site. 

Callie Henson led the offense with 18 kills in addition to three blocks and three digs. Delaney Miller also reached double digit kills with 12 in her final game as an Eagle. The native of Buffalo, Mo. also led the defense with four blocks. 

Sophomore Sydney Healy was the final Eagle to tally double-digit kills with 10. 

Senior setter Marina Alonso recorded a double-double in the final game of her collegiate career with a team-high 29 assists and 10 digs. Gabi Owczarek also tallied double-digit assits with 18 paired in addition to eight digs and two service aces. 

Krystal Brauner led the defense with 19 digs while Shea Luby added 12 and Annabelle Maassen eight. 

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