IU Kokomo, Point Park representing RSC at NAIA Volleyball Opening Rd
IU Kokomo, Point Park representing RSC at NAIA Volleyball Opening Rd
FLORENCE, Ky. -- River States Conference volleyball has two respresentatives competing at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round Nov. 19 with RSC Tournament champion IU Kokomo (27-7) and RSC regular-season champion Point Park (Pa.) (20-14).
IU Kokomo (27-7, 13-3 RSC) has drawn Ottawa (Kan.) University (31-7, 22-0 KCAC), the regular-season champion of the Kansas College Athletic Conference. The Cougars and Bears square off in the NAIA Opening Round Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. CT from Ottawa, Kan. Live Video will be provided on Stretch Internet and Live Stats on Dakstats.
Point Park (20-14, 15-1 RSC) is paired at No. 25 Madonna (30-7, 14-2 WHAC), which received the ninth and final at-large bid and was a semifinalist in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament. The Pioneers and Crusaders meet in the NAIA Opening Round Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. ET from Livonia, Mich. Live Video will be aired on Stretch Internet and Live Stats on Dakstats.
IU Kokomo is making its second straight appearance in the NAIA Opening Round as it qualified in 2015 as conference tournament champs as well. The Cougars are riding a nine-match win streak, which resulted in the RSC West Division championship and going 3-0 in the RSC Tournament for the title.
IU Kokomo has All-RSC performers Keeana Walton (MH) and Lindi Thomas (OH) at the net and Kaleigh Ensley (L) in the back row. The Cougars rank 32nd in the nation in digs and 42nd in kills.
Point Park is in the NAIA Opening Round for the third year in a row and the fourth time in the last six year. The Pioneers went last year as conference runner-up and in 2014 as conference tournament champs. Point Park won 15 of 16 RSC matches this year on its way to the regular-season title and NAIA automatic bid.
Point Park is led by RSC Player of the Year Shiloh Simonson (OH) and RSC Coach of the Year Mike Bruno. Joining Simonson on the All-RSC first team was Emily Meng (S), and on the All-RSC second team was Ashley Taylor (RS). The Pioneers are 14th in the nation in service aces and 20th in blocks.
IU Kokomo and Point Park are two of the 44 teams in the NAIA national tournament. The top 20 teams advanced directly to the final site of Sioux City, Iowa, where the 12 opening round winners will join for a 32-team tournament Nov. 29-Dec. 3.
2016 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round -- Nov. 19 at Campus Sites
IU Kokomo (27-7, 13-3 RSC) at Ottawa (Kan.) (31-7, 22-0 KCAC), Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. CT -- Ottawa, Kan.
Live Video Live Stats
Point Park (20-14, 15-1 RSC) at No. 25 Madonna (Mich.) (30-7, 14-2 WHAC), Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. ET -- Livonia, Mich.
Live Video Live Stats
NAIA Volleyball National Championship Links
Qualifiers
NAIA Opening Rd Schedule
Final site information (Sioux City, Iowa)