The Bob Jones University women's volleyball team finished their 2025 season second in the nation after falling in a 3-0 match to Manhattan Christian College on Saturday at the NCCAA DII Volleyball National Championship in Joplin, Missouri. 

The #4 Bruins entered the title match after taking down #3 Pensacola Christian College in four sets in Friday night's semifinal contest. 

Today's game marked the eighth meeting between the Bruins and Thunder. The two programs met on Thursday in pool play where the Thunder swept the Bruins 3-0. The Bruins defeated the Thunder in the championship match in 2019 and 2023 and beat them in 2024 to knock them out of championship contention.

Manhattan Christian College entered the tournament as the #1 seed having only lost one game the whole season.

As today's game got underway, Hannah Goodwin got the scoring started with a kill for the Bruins. It was a good start for the Bruins, but Manhattan began to find the open spaces on the court to gain a double digit lead. Bruins countered and scored five straight, highlighted with kills by Bethany Estell and an ace by Elyse Vest, to try and chip away at the deficit. They continued to fight, but came up short 25-16. 

A kill by Goodwin saw the Bruins begin the middle frame with the opening point again. They kept it close and tied it at 8-8. The Bruins stayed in it and continued to compete even as the Thunder took a seven point lead. Both teams battled through several long rallies to stay in the set, but in the end, Manhattan took the set 25-16.

Manhattan worked to a 5-0 start before a kill by Alyssa Goebert followed by a block by Goodwin and Estell broke the streak. The Thunder continued to push the Bruins and secured their first-ever national championship win in the third set with a score of 25-12. 

At the conclusion of the game, Anne Lloyd and Hannah Goodwin were named to the NCCAA All-Tournament team. 

"I am proud of the growth and determination of our team these past three months," said Coach Christa Schlichting. "Getting to play for the national championship was an incredible feat for our team during a season of transition. Unfortunately, we could not find our rhythm against a determined and experienced Manhattan team. Congratulations to them and their coach for winning their first NCCAA national championship."

The Bruins finished their 2025 campaign with a 20-17 season record as they look ahead to another championship run next season.