KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- With two wins today on the opening day of the 2022 National Tournament, the Sabercats have automatically qualified for the NCCAA National Semifinal.

Maranatha will still face the top-seeded Manhattan Christian College Thunder tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Eastern to decide the matchups for the semifinals, as both of those teams have already qualified for the National Final Four.

OVERVIEW

• Result:
  • #4 Maranatha 3-1 #5 Toccoa Falls (23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21) 
  • #4 Maranatha 3-0 #8 Johnson (Fla.) (25-21, 25-16, 25-13)
• Venue: Kissimmee Civic Center
• Location: Kissimmee, Florida
• Event: NCCAA National Tournament
• Attendance: -
• Records: #4 MBU (25-5), #5 TFC (16-15), #8 Johnson (8-15)

STORY

#5 Toccoa Falls  - Mattie Bumpus - the repeating NCCAA DII National Player of the Year - put down three straight kills to start things off, but the opening set went to Toccoa Falls, as the Eagles took the first set 25-23 thanks to four straight points to close things out. 

Maranatha's response was steady and sure, however, as two Eryn Bates aces put the Sabercats in front 13-7 in the second, kick-starting the momentum. Kills from Delaney Thompson, Caitrin Kemlo, and Bumpus sealed a 25-19 win to tie the match, and the Sabercats were starting to click. The third set was the most lopsided and it was also the most precise for the Sabercats hitters. Emily Johnson dished out 11 assists and the Sabercats had just two attack errors, and after a 25-17 win, the win looked imminent. 

The win came soon enough, as the Sabercats took it in four. Bumpus ended up with 15 kills, Thompson added nine, and Arielle Henkel breezed along with eight on the day. Johnson compiled 32 assists in the match and Maranatha looked to be in full control.

#PlayoftheGame: A big block from Bumpus and Kemlo to force and early timeout, @MBUSabercats comeback to win 3-1! pic.twitter.com/uXYMkIw8wY

— NCCAA Championships (@NCCAAChamps) November 17, 2022

#8 Johnson - The Suns took advantage of their home court and came out swinging with a 5-0 run to start. A kill from Johnson stopped the bleeding but the Suns edged out to a 10-6 lead and looked ready to go. Only some determined swings from Bumpus, Thompson, and Kemlo kept the Sabercats in it, and Maranatha finally clawed their way back to win 25-21 in a nervy opener.

The first-set win seemed to settle the nerves for Maranatha, who quickly found their rhythm and held Johnson off 25-16 in the second set. The Sabercats' attack was sharp, and Marri Reid was spearheading a scrappy defense that frustrated the hosts and jeopardized their future at the National Tournament. The last set looked predictable, and the prediction didn't look good for Johnson.

The final set was the quickest of the day, as late kills from Thompson, Henkel, and Bumpus sealed off a decisive 25-13 win and a ticket to the National Semifinal.

#PlayoftheGame: Arielle Henkel right down the middle for @MBUSabercats! pic.twitter.com/M233SyZokp

— NCCAA Championships (@NCCAAChamps) November 18, 2022

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MBU Starters: 3-Johnson, 4-Reid (Libero), 8-Bumpus, 21-A. Henkel, 22-Miller, 23-K. Henkel, 24- Thompson

STATS 

• Box Score (Toccoa Falls)
• Box Score (Johnson-Florida)
• Last Time: Maranatha beat Toccoa Falls 3-1 in pool play at the 2019 NCCAA DII National Tournament
• Last Time: This was the first-ever meeting between Maranatha and Johnson Florida
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against Toccoa Falls 7-0

OPPONENT

• Toccoa Falls competes in the National Christian Colle Athletic Association - South Region
• Toccoa Falls finished with a 7-18 record last year and did not qualify for their 2021 NCCAA Regional Tournament
• Johnson-Florida competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association - South Region
• Johnson-Florida finished with a 5-14 record last year. They went 0-3 during the 2021 NCCAA National Tournament pool play

NEXT

The Sabercats continue in the NCCAA National Tournament tomorrow when they take on #1 Manhattan Christian tomorrow at 1:30 P.M. EST. Find game information at mbusabercats.com/schedule.