NAIA Volleyball Championship: Final Site Preview
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – After earning an opening round, Midland University will continue to play in the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship this week in Sioux City, Iowa. This will be the 11th trip to the final site for the Warriors in program history, all of which have come under head coach Paul Giesselmann. Midland will join 23 other schools that won in the opening round as they Battle for the Red Banner inside the Tyson Events Center. Pool play gets underway on Wednesday with the No. 19-seeded Warriors' opening match coming against No. 6-seeded Eastern Oregon at 4:30 p.m.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT/SCHEDULE
Pool play begins on Wednesday, December 4, and continues through Friday with one match from each of the eight pools played per day. The format of three-team pools began in 2022 and removes the disadvantage of a team having to play multiple matches on a single day. Winners of the eight pools will advance to the championship bracket, which begins play on Saturday. After a day of rest on Sunday, the semifinals will be held on Monday and the championship match will be held on Tuesday, December 10.
Midland is the third seed in Pool F along with No. 6-seeded Eastern Oregon University and No. 11-seeded Indiana University Kokomo. Following Wednesday's match between the Warriors and EOU, Midland will face IU Kokomo at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The final match of the pool will be on Friday at 4:30 p.m. For a complete look at the entire pool play schedule, click here.
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POOL F PREVIEW
Pool F of the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship in Sioux City, Iowa, features three teams with strong postseason resumes: No. 6 Eastern Oregon, No. 11 IU Kokomo, and No. 19 Midland. These programs bring a mix of experience, momentum, and tradition as they vie for a spot in the elimination bracket.
No. 6 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers
- Location: La Grande, Oregon
- Record: 29-4 (8-2 in last 10 matches)
- Coach: Kaki McLean Morehead (18th season)
The Mountaineers continue their remarkable consistency, making their 11th consecutive appearance at the NAIA Championship and advancing to the final site each time. In the Opening Round, they overcame a first-set deficit to defeat UC Merced in four sets. Eastern Oregon boasts a balanced attack and a history of excelling on the national stage under the leadership of long-time head coach Coach McLean Morehead.
- Location: Kokomo, Indiana
- Record: 32-5 (9-1 in last 10 matches)
- Coach: Heather Hayes (12th season)
IU Kokomo is enjoying another standout season, advancing to Sioux City for the fifth time in program history. The Cougars punched their ticket to the final site with a four-set victory over Indiana Tech in the Opening Round. With a deep and experienced roster, Coach Hayes has guided the program to consistent success, including this year's impressive 32-win campaign.
- Location: Fremont, Nebraska
- Record: 18-11 (7-3 in last 10 matches)
- Coach: Paul Giesselmann (15th season)
The Warriors bring a legacy of postseason success, qualifying for the NAIA Championship in 11 of the past 12 seasons and reaching the final site each time. Midland's challenging schedule has them battle-tested, and their recent form suggests they are peaking at the right time. Under the direction of veteran coach Paul Giesselmann, the Warriors look to add another deep tournament run to their resume.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Momentum vs. Experience: Eastern Oregon and IU Kokomo enter with dominant records, while Midland hopes to use its tough regular season to its advantage.
- Coaching Pedigree: All three teams are led by seasoned coaches with a wealth of tournament experience.
- Key Matchups: The Pool F competition promises intense matches as teams fight to secure the pool championship and advance to bracket play on Saturday.
For a more in-depth look at the Midland team, check out the 2024 Midland Volleyball Postseason Media Guide [LINK].
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HOW TO WATCH
Fans planning to attend the NAIA National Championship can purchase tickets/passes online [LINK] or at the Tyson Events Center box office. Ticket prices are $17 per day for adults and $10 for students (10-18 & college students with ID). There is also a Full Tournament Pass available for $60 and a Pool Play Pass for $30.
For those who are unable to travel to Sioux City, all of the action can be watched online via the NAIA Network [LINK]. All of the action will be streamed for free this season thanks to the NAIA's partnership with Urban Edge Network.