Olivet Nazarene University

Posted: Monday, November 24, 2008

Kansas City, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the pool assignments and schedule for the 29th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The tournament will be held at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa on December 2-6, 2008.

The Olivet Nazarene University volleyball team will open its seventh appearance at the NAIA National Tournament on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. against tenth-seeded Northwestern College (Iowa) in pool-play action. On Dec. 3, the Tigers will face fourth-seeded Concordia University (Calif.) at 3:45 p.m. and Walsh University (Ohio) at 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 4.

Northwestern enters the tournament with a 27-7 record after falling to Morningside College (Iowa) in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championship. The Raid Raiders still earned a first round bye by finishing in the top 12 in the final rankings. Leading Northwestern offensively is Hillary Hanno and Randa Hulstein, who each average over 3.45 kills-per-set. Kaitlyn Beaver and Rachel Gosselink have shared the setting duties, with Beaver averaging 7.89 assists-per-set and Gossleink averaging 3.88. Janna Bloemendaal anchors the defense with 4.29 digs-per-set, while Hulstein has posted 165 blocks to lead the defense at the net. This will be Northwestern’s third straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament and seventh overall. Northwestern Concordia finished in the Elite Eight at last year’s NAIA National Tournament.

Concordia enters the tournament as the fourth seed with a 26-5 overall record and a 15-5 record in the Golden State Athletic Conferece (GSAC). The Eagles fell to No. 1 Fresno Pacific University 3-0 in the season finale but received a bye in the opening round for finishing in the top 12 in the final rankings. Leading Concordia is Traci Weamer, who has averages 3.18 kills-per-set and is one of five Concordia players with at least 258 kills. Jenna Friedrich and Vanessa Perry have split the setting duties, with Friedrich averaging 6.11 assists-per-set and Perry, 4.76 assists. Chelsea Scott leads the backcourt with 3.52 digs-per-set, as Bailey Schade and Lauren Evans each averaged 1.08 blocks-per-set. This will be Concordia’s fourth trip to the NAIA National Tournament and third straight. Concordia finished third at last year’s NAIA National Tournament.

Walsh, who is participating in its fourth appearance at the NAIA National Tournament, will enter the tournament with a 29-10 overall record and 13-1 American Mideast Conference (AMC) mark. Walsh won their opening round matchup against Lee University (Tenn.) this past Saturday. Megan McDonald, the AMC Conference Player of the Year, averages 4.07 kills-per-set, while Jessica Schmidt directs the offense with 10.77 assists-per-set. Ashley Yuhas and Erica Parker anchor the defensive unit, averaging 4.26 digs and 0.83 blocks, respectively. Walsh’s last trip to the NAIA National Tournament was back in 2003 when the Cavaliers finished in the Elite Eight.

The Tigers are 37-9 and riding a six-match winning streak as they enter the national tournament.