COLUMBIA, Mo. - National American University wrapped up pool play with a 3-0 record to advance to today's quarterfinals at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship.

The defending national champion Mavericks beat Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) 30-21, 30-28, 28-30, 30-28, and then defeated Lindenwood University (Mo.) 30-18, 24-30, 30-18, 30-15 during the second day of pool play on Thursday.

Daniela Oliveira and Thais Batistella had big matches in the win over SCAD. Oliveira recorded 18 kills and 10 digs, while Batistella had 18 kills, seven digs, two block assists and a service ace.

Thamy Viana added eight kills and three solo blocks, and also led the defense with 15 digs.

Amanda Silva paced the offense with 44 set assists, and also had 10 digs and three aces, Kaitlin Kramer notched 10 digs and Dalane Sorelli added four block assists.

"We got off to a good start (against SCAD)," said NAU head coach Todd Lowery. "We went flat after that, but we got through it."

SCAD actually out-hit (64 kills to 54) and out-blocked (9 to 7-1/2) NAU.

Cindy Stayton had 20 kills, and Cristina Payne tallied 18 kills, and two solo and one assisted block for the Bees.

Against Lindenwood, NAU used a balanced offensive attack, with Oliveira collecting 16 kills, and Viana and Batistella getting 13 apiece. Oliveira also had 15 digs, four aces and three solo blocks, Batistella added 14 digs, three block assists and an ace, and Viana posted two solo blocks.

Silva dished out 38 set assists to lead the offense, Tais Centeno had five aces, and two solo and two assisted blocks, Sorelli added one solo and three assisted blocks.

"We played with a lot of fire," Lowery added. "Thais and Dani had good games and Thamy (Viana) out of the middle."

NAU had 50 kills and 13 blocks during the match.

A pair of freshmen from Rapid City made their national tournament debuts for the Mavericks. Jamie Snyder, a Central graduate, and Whitney Hayes, a Stevens grad, each played in one game during the match against SCAD. Snyder recorded a service ace and a dig, while Hayes also had a dig.

NAU received a first-round bye after winning Pool E. The Mavericks take on No. 4 Biola (Calif.) in a quarterfinal match at noon MST today. Biola (30-6), the winner of Pool D with a 3-0 mark, beat NAU 30-14, 30-16, 30-19 in a match in California on Sept. 28.

"They (Biola) won in five games against Columbia (on Thursday), and we were able to watch," Lowery noted. "We're excited to play."

Leslie DaSilva will also be back in the line-up for NAU.

"That makes our serve receive better and adds another big swinger in the front row - more to choose from," Lowery said.

Lowery decided not to play DaSilva during pool play, so she could rest her surgically-repaired knee.

National American, which was ranked 11th in the final NAIA poll and seeded fifth in the tourney, improved to 26-10 on the season.