Ellendale, N.D. – The Crown volleyball team won their opening game of the NCCAA regional tournament this weekend, but fell to number one seed Faith Baptist in the semifinals as their season concluded on Friday. 

Tasked with playing two games on Friday, the Storm defeated Trinity Bible 3-1 in the 4 p.m. game before falling to the top seeded Eagles on Friday night. 

In the opening game of the tournament, Crown used a balanced attack and 13 service aces to down the Lions with set scores of 25-12, 25-11, 19-25, and 25-16.

Gretchen Warner led the team with seven kills, while Gracie Zieroth and Jocelynn Shockley had six apiece.  Talana Rudzitis had a team high 22 assists and five aces, while Ashley Earick contributed four service aces.  Zieroth let the defensive effort with a massive 28 digs to set a new season high, Sage Johnston hit double figures with 15 digs and Rudzitis and Shockley had 11 each. 

In the semifinal, Crown struggled to gain much traction in attack, recording 26 kills, but 27 hitting errors.  The Storm outhit the Eagles with three more kills, but the tournament's top seeded team had just 15 attack errors. 

The Eagles kept the Storm at arm's length for most of the three set match, but Crown made a game of it, particularly in set two when they held a 22-21 lead late, but couldn't quite get over the line.  Faith Baptist won the match with set scores of 25-20, 25-22, and 25-17.

Shockley led the Storm with eight kills in match two, with Earick close behind at seven.  Rudzitis once again paced the team with 22 assists while the same four players led the team in digs, again topped by Zieroth, this time with 19.

Faith Baptist will take on the number three seed Maranatha Baptist in the region final Saturday at 1:30 p.m.