Mavs looking for title

By Sean Welsh | Wednesday, November 29, 2006

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Journal Sports Writer

Undefeated and top-ranked National American University begins play in the 27th annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship this afternoon.

The Region III champion Mavericks picked up the No. 1 seed after recording a 35-0 record, 31 of which were sweeps.

"We haven't been tested, as far as how we'll react in a five-game match," said National American head coach Todd Lowery, whose team won the national title in 2002. "But, I think our schedule has tested us physically. We played four matches pretty much every weekend ... (and) we did not have many easy weekends. A couple weekends we played three or four ranked teams, and we did that to get ready for this week."

National American, which lost to Missouri Baptist in the quarterfinals last year, also has another luxury this weekend -- everyone on the roster is healthy.

"For sure, we're excited about being healthy," added Lowery. "We felt like we really continued to improve over the course of the year. We're playing our best volleyball right now and that's all you can ask for."

The Mavericks open the three-game, pool play portion of the tournament with a match-up against 11th-ranked Azusa Pacific, Calif., at 12:30 p.m. MT.

"We got a chance to see them play in Omaha," Lowery said about Azusa Pacific. "They have a couple big outside hitters, but they're a one dimensional team. Everything runs through the outside hitters, so if we can slow them down, we'll be alright."

The Cougars are 21-11 on the year and finished fourth in Region II. They got in via scenario No. 2.

On Thursday, NAU plays two games, the first of which is against King College, Tenn., at 10:15 a.m.

The Mavericks beat King by scores of 30-16, 30-23 and 30-21 on Oct. 20 in Savannah, Ga.

"We feel pretty good about King," Lowery commented. "I'm not sure they have enough to match up with us."

The Tornados are 30-9 on the season. They won the Region XII championship after picking up their 10th straight Appalachian Athletic Conference title.

On Thursday night, NAU meets up with the tournament's host, No. 10 seed Columbia College, Mo., at 7:15 p.m.

In a match played on Sept. 10 in Lamoni, Iowa, the Mavericks picked up a 30-15, 30-20, 30-25 win over the fifth-ranked Cougars.

"Columbia always plays better at the end of the year," said Lowery. "But, I talked to their coach yesterday, and she said they're a little beat up. They're not sure if a couple girls are going to play. It should be a good match-up with them as well. It helps that we've seen them already this season."

Columbia is making its 13th consecutive trip to nationals, which is one shy of the record. After finishing runner-up in Region V, the Cougars received an at-large spot because they are hosting the event. The American Midwest Conference champs currently have a 39-5 record.

NAU's starting line-up includes outside hitters Leslie Da Silva and Kellen Foganholi, middle hitters Carla De Marqui and Thamy Viana, setter Juliane Viera and right-side hitter Daniela Oliveira.

The Mavericks are making their eighth straight trip to nationals and have an all-time tourney record of 28-10.

The top two teams from each of the five pools advance to Friday's play. A play-in game for the quarterfinals will take place in the morning, before the quarterfinals take place in the afternoon and evening. The semifinals and championship take place on Saturday.

Two-time defending champion California Baptist, the No. 4 seed, received an at-large bid for this year's event after taking third in Region II.

Dickinson State will be representing the Dakota Athletic Conference as the No. 5 seed.

Hastings, Neb., and Northwestern, Iowa are representing the Great Plains Athletic Conference.