LA GRANDE, Ore. – The No. 11 Eastern University volleyball team will step inside the confines of the Tyson Events Center for a second time.
On Dec. 1, the Mountaineers will square off against No. 14 MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) in Pool A of the 2015 NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The first serve is set for 8:30 p.m. CT.
A total of 24 programs will compete for a title, and the squads are divided into six pools with four teams in each pool. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the single-elimination bracket starting on Dec. 4. The championship match will take place on Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m. CST and will air live for just the second time in NAIA volleyball history on ESPN3.
The Opponent
The Pioneers enter pool play with an overall record of 26-9, including a 10-1 mark in conference play.
MNU lost just one set in three matches during the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament, as the Pioneers took down then-ranked No. 16 Evangel (Mo.) in straight sets (25-16, 25-16, 31-29) to clinch their fourth conference title in the last five years.
In the squad's Opening Round match, MNU toppled Union (Ky.), 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-12), to advance to pool play action. Gisele Silva hit .667 for 15 kills, while Rachel Kater dished out 41 assists.
The Pioneers are tied for 19th in the country in hitting percentage (.241), and they are also fourth in the NAIA with 330.5 total blocks.
Silva leads the squad with 3.42 kills per frame, while Kater tallies 11.60 assists and 2.35 digs per stanza.
Seven Pioneers stand six feet or taller.
EOU's Last Time Out
The Navy and Gold will be playing their first match in over two weeks. In EOU's last time out, the Mountaineers dropped a three-set (27-25, 25-21, 25-16) decision in the 2015 CCC Championship to another pool-play qualifier in College of Idaho.
Despite the loss, EOU clinched its first-ever outright CCC regular season title, and the Mountaineers carded the No. 4 at-large bid in the NAIA National Championship.
EOU is fourth in the NAIA in assists per set (13.00) and are 11th in kills per frame (13.88).
Junior setter Rachelle Chamberlain, the all-time leader in assists at EOU, paces the Mountaineers with 11.26 assists per set, while sophomore outside hitter Amanda Miller averages 3.51 kills per frame.
Pool A
No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Briar Cliff (Iowa) join EOU and MNU in Pool A of the 2015 NAIA National Volleyball Championship.
The Mountaineers are one of three squads (College of Idaho, Southern Oregon) out of the CCC to reach pool play.
To view the complete field, click here.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at a Glance
The Blue Raiders are enjoying their first No. 1 ranking in program history, entering pool play with a 33-3 record overall and a 15-1 effort in Mid-South Conference play.
Lindsey Wilson (LWC) has won 24 matches in a row and finished the 2015 campaign a perfect 14-0 at home. The Blue Raiders rank fifth in the country in hitting percentage (.291) and are eighth in kills per set (13.93).
In the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship, LWC breezed past then-ranked No. 11 Georgetown College in straight sets (25-23, 25-19, 25-19) to seal the squad's third conference crown.
Carol Siqueira tallies a team-best 3.80 kills per set, while Makenzie Montano averages 10.38 assists and 2.65 digs per frame.
Briaf Cliff (Iowa) at a Glance
The Chargers earned the automatic bid to Sioux City as the host school in the 2015 NAIA Volleyball Championship.
Briaff Cliff (BCU) finished the 2015 campaign with a 17-11 record and a 9-7 mark in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play. The Chargers suffered a 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 26-24) setback to then-ranked No. 15 Hastings in the quarterfinals of the GPAC Tournament.
Katelin Langel has directed BCU's offense thus far with 3.25 kills per set, while Amy Frank has mustered 26 service aces this season.
Ticket Prices
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at etix.com. The prices are as follows:
Individual Match Tickets:
$12 - Adults
$5 - Children ages 5-18 and college students with ID
Week Passes:
$40 - Adults ($25 for teachers with school ID)
$25 - Children ages 5-18 and college students with ID
Guest banquet tickets will be available by credit card via phone order only. Tickets are $30 each. Fans may call 712-279-4844 between 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (CST) to purchase tickets to the banquet. Banquet tickets will also be available for sale at the door.
For more information click here.
Live Video/Audio
Fans can pay $9.95 per day to watch the matches. To view live video, click here.
Follow EOU Athletics
Fans can follow Mountaineer athletics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EOUathletics, on Instagram via "EOUsports," or on Twitter via @EOUsports.
