SALT LAKE CITY – The Cougars were looking to solidify their postseason with a victory in the RMAC finale.

Tightly played throughout, Colorado Christian dropped a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21) decision to Westminster on Friday evening.

With the setback the Cougars postseason hopes are dependent on the outcome of the remaining conference matches left to be played. Due to the health pandemic, the RMAC is using an RPI formula to determine the top eight teams who will qualify. Heading into the weekend the Cougars were seventh in that ranking just ahead of South Dakota Mines, Black Hills State and UCCS.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Early in the first stanza, Westminster made a critical scoring spurt to take the early lead. Trailing 7-4, the home team scored seven straight points to take a 11-7 lead. Colorado Christian pulled within a single point twice but couldn't complete the rally.

The Cougars used a .324 team hitting percentage in the second frame to pull even in the match. Despite trailing during the early points, Colorado Christian took the lead for good at 9-8 and continued that momentum to knot the contest at a set each.

Colorado Christian let a late third set lead slip away. Leading by four points (22-18), the Cougars couldn't close out the set. Westminster scored five straight points to grab a 23-22 edge. A Griffins service error tied the stanza at 23-23 but, the home team registered two kills to nab the match lead.

A change of the lead late in the fourth set saw the Griffins pull out the win. Westminster led 15-10 but the Cougars chipped away and took a 17-16 lead. However, Westminster went on their own scoring run to close out the match on their Senior Night.

COUGAR LEADERS: Offensively Breanna Allen registered a team high 12 kills with Jasa Scheierman tallying a 10-kill performance.

Maddie Burns notched her fourth double-double of the season as the senior handed out 41 assists with 10 digs. Christa Tucker had her second best dig tally of the season as the junior recorded 22.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• During the Cougars second set, they didn't commit on hitting error on 34 attempts
• The Griffins registered a 13-8 team blocking edge
• Despite the close match, there were only seven lead changes

UP NEXT: The Cougars host Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m.