Spartan volleyball eyes NAIA Nationals following stunning upset
MBU to host nationals with opening game against Robert Morris Univeristy Saturday at noon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brad Cygan
Sports Information Director
(314) 744-5372
cyganb@mobap.edu
After a stunning upset victory over Columbia College, the MBU women's volleyball team have recevied an automatic bid to the national tournament of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
MBU shocked Columbia, which was ranked No. 3 nationwide, in straight sets Nov. 13 to punch their ticket to nationals and take home top honors at the American Midwest Conference Championship Tournament.
MBU will host Robert Morris University on Saturday, Nov. 19 for the opening round of the national tournament inside the University's new Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.
"We played so great all season, so to get an automatic bid by beating such a talented team is a great way to start the postseason," said MBU Head Coach John Yehling.
The Spartans finished with a record of 35-4 and have been one of the most consistent teams in the NAIA all season.
"Three of our losses came to teams that were ranked in the top four of the coach's poll, but we played well in each game so we know we have the ability to do quite well in the tournament," Yehling added.
The final coach's poll of the season was released Nov. 13. The Spartans made the biggest jump of all teams in the tournament, from 19 to 15.
The Robert Morris Eagles are 18-15 on the season and the winners of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. RMU received its automatic bid after a five-set victory over Trinity Christian College. The team was the fifth seed and managed big victories over University of St. Francis and Olivet Nazarene University. The Eagles were not nationally ranked at the end of the season and will need another upset victory to advance.
MBU will host the first round match on Saturday afternoon at noon. The winning team will move on to the final host site at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, which is set to take place from Nov. 29 through Dec. 3.
Missouri Baptist University is a Christ-centered university located in Saint Louis. MBU offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees in education, business and religion and its new terminal degree, the Doctor of Education. In addition to its 66-acre West St. Louis County campus, MBU offers degree programs at nine regional learning centers throughout St. Louis and in Southern Illinois and online. For more information, go to http://www.mobap.edu or call 1- 877-434-1115.
