SIOUX CITY, Iowa. – The No. 9 ranked Battlin' Bears swept the No. 23 ranked Bulldogs in their first match at the 2018 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship.

The Battlin' Bears began the first set strong 18-5 before watching their lead disintegrate. The Bulldogs climbed back to tie the match at 24-24. Rocky just narrowly secured a 26-24 set win with a Hailey Copinga kill and an attack error by McPherson.

Rocky rallied and pulled ahead of the Bulldogs in the second set. Four Copinga kills at the end of the set gave Rocky the next victory 25-17.

Down two sets, McPherson began to have trouble keeping up with the Battlin' Bears. With the score sitting at 16-11, Rocky scored nine straight to sweep the Bulldogs 25-11. The win marked Rocky's 19th sweep this year.

Copinga scored 12 kills with four blocks. Daniella Russell added an additional seven kills.

Natalie Hilderman orchestrated 29 assists on the night with 15 digs.

Defensively, Ruby Kallenbach pulled in 19 digs. Naomi Bad Bear and Miranda Gallagher each contributed five blocks.

Rocky Mountain College will continue pool play tomorrow in Sioux City with a match against Marian University Indianapolis. The Knights and Battlin' Bears will face off tomorrow at 8 p.m. CST / 7 p.m. MST.