Five-set matches played right into the Chaparrals' hands throughout the 2024 season. COD had won all four of its extended matches entering Saturday's NJCAA Division III Championship third-place match against No. 3-seed Century (Minn.) College.
 
Safe to say that the fifth five setter was COD's best victory of the year.
 
Dominance on the block and well-rounded play on the attack gave No. 11-seed COD a thrilling 3-2 victory over the No. 5-seed and No. 5-ranked Wood Ducks (24-26, 25-22, 30-32, 25-22, 17-15) at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
COD totaled 28 blocks assists, led by All-Tournament choice Josephine Becker's 10. The sophomore finished her career with the Chaps' only solo block for the match, and keyed 12 kills on 40 attacks.
 
Freshman Skylar Huffman had 11 kills while Christina Savaglio and Alexandra Hornbogen each had 10.
 
On the block, Hornbogen had seven block assists and Savaglio added three.
 
Freshman Megan Daca came off the bench and mightily supported the cause for coach Tolis Koskinaris' team with eight kills and four block assists.
 
Setter Ava Diaz proved her athleticism with three block assists, in addition to her 44 assists.
 
Freshman libero Francesca Brandonisio, who finished the season as D3's leader in service aces, came through when it mattered with a season-high nine. She led in digs with 23, followed by Huffman (20), Camila Fundora (18) and Diaz with 16.
 
COD ended its season 24-15 and placed among the top five for the third straight year at nationals; winning in 2022 and placing fifth in 2023.
 
Match summary
COD took control in the opener going, taking a 6-0 lead. The set featured back-and-forth play with nine ties until Century broke away with the final two points of the set.
 
Much like the opener, the second set was evenly played with nine ties, the final at 20-20. A Huffman kill and an attack error from Century gave COD a two-point lead at 22-20. After Jayde Grant delivered her only ace of the match, the set ended with a kill from Daca and a block assist from her and Savaglio.
 
In the third, Century jumped ahead 7-2 and after four ties, COD pushed to a 23-21 lead on a Savaglio kill. After the set was tied at 23 and 24, Century moved ahead to set point at 26-25. COD then fought off five Century set-point attempts until the Wood Ducks scored the final points to win at 32-30.

The fourth featured six ties until Century built four-point leads, its last at 14-10. COD then grabbed momentum by enjoying a 9-2 run built on a Becker kill, a Fundora ace and three attack errors from Century. COD gained side-out, and thanks to two blocks from both Savaglio and Becker, and one from Becker and Diaz. COD pushed its lead to 19-16. At 22-22, kills from Huffman and Becker forced a fifth and final set.
 
Both teams battled back and forth in the fifth as each team matched each other with 15 ties. Leading 15-14 after a Century timeout, the set was again tied and what followed next gave the set and the match to the Chaps. A Savaglio kill gave COD side out and a 16-15 lead. Sophomore Rory Geroux dealt the match's final serve and COD earned the win on a Century attack error.