NAIA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pool F | Sioux City, Iowa | Tyson Events Center
5 p.m. Wednesday – SOU vs. Dakota Wesleyan | Live Stats
5 p.m. Thursday – SOU vs. MidAmerica Nazarene | Live Stats
5 p.m. Friday – Dakota Wesleyan vs. MidAmerica Nazarene
(All times Pacific)
LIVE STREAMS | POOL PLAY CENTRAL

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Southern Oregon University volleyball team is back at the final site of the NAIA Championships for the third time in its last four seasons, taking on the underdog role this time around as pool play begins Wednesday.

The 24 teams still standing are situated into eight three-team pools, the winners of which will advance to Saturday's national quarterfinals. The Raiders (22-10 overall) are grouped with No. 6-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (23-7) and No. 10 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (29-1) in Pool F. They'll match up with DWU on Wednesday and MNU on Thursday at the Tyson Events Center, starting both contests at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

#1 DAKOTA WESLEYAN (23-7)
Mitchell, S.D. | Great Plains Athletic Conference (11-5, t-4th)
NAIA Ranking: No. 6
Last 10: 7-3
Longest Streak: W8
Notable: The Tigers are nothing if not battle-tested. They came out of a stacked GPAC that is dominating the national landscape, with five teams ranked among the top-eight and seven total at the final site. Three of their losses were at the hands of No. 2 Jamestown (N.D.), and they won their only matchups against No. 3 Midland (Neb.) and No. 4 Concordia (Neb.). They lean on Ady Dwight, a 6-foot junior who is one of the most productive attackers in the country from the middle position with eye-popping figures of 4.7 kills and 1.0 blocks per set on a .356 attacking average. A senior setter, Madeline Else, runs the show and was an All-GPAC selection after posting 11.8 assists per set. The Tigers attack at a .218 average as a team and dominated Kansas Wesleyan over three sets in the Opening Round.
Tournament History: The Tigers are making their second consecutive appearance and third all-time in the national tournament, looking to clinch their first-ever spot in the single-elimination bracket. They went 1-1 in pool play last year.

#2 MIDAMERICA NAZARENE (29-1)
Olathe, Kan. | Heart of America Athletic Conference (18-1, t-1st)
NAIA Ranking: No. 10
Last 10: 9-1
Longest Streak: W25
Notable: After turning in a 16-17 record last year, the Pioneers have dominated to this point – taking their only loss in five sets against No. 13 Park (Mo.) in the final match of the regular season. The turnaround coincided with the additions of three key transfers: outside hitters Cassidy Crist (2.8 kills/set, .260) and Lucie Maceckova (2.6 kills/set, .240), and middle Mikayla Johnson (2.5 kills/set, 1.0 blocks/set, .344). Another outside hitter, senior Ariana Arciniega (2.6 kills/set, .171), gives their well-rounded attack four different players averaging at least 2.5 kills per set and has helped them to No. 22 on the NAIA leaderboard with a .224 team attacking average. They also rank seventh in blocks (2.5/set) and have eight players on the roster standing at 6-foot or taller. They got a scare from Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) in the Opening Round, surviving in five sets after taking the first two.
Tournament History: The Pioneers have become semi-regulars in the national tournament with seven appearances, all since 2011. This is their sixth time at the final site and first since 2016. They've advanced to bracket play twice and made their deepest run in 2012, when they reached the quarterfinal round.

#3 SOUTHERN OREGON (22-10)
Ashland, Ore. | Cascade Conference (14-8, t-3rd)
NAIA Ranking: RV (No. 29 overall)
Last 10: 6-4
Longest Streak: W9
Notable: The Raiders didn't let injuries or illnesses derail their season, making it back to the tournament after opting out of the 2020 campaign and rebounding from a 14-13 season in 2021. Six of their losses have come against top-four teams in the rankings (Concordia, Corban, Eastern Oregon), and their encouraging play in recent weeks culminated with a five-set win over William Jessup (Calif.) in the Opening Round. Sophomore outside hitter Hailey Van Well – now a two-time member of the All-Cascade Conference team – stepped up in that match by recording season-highs of 19 kills and 15 digs, and she came through with six kills in the tiebreaker. Her average of 3.2 per set easily leads the team, while right-side hitter Simone Gordon adds 2.0 on a .223 attack and is coming off her best outing of the season with 14 kills against WJU. In SOU's last five matches, Gordon has logged 50 kills compared to 12 attacking errors. The progress of All-CCC middle Sadie Byrd (1.6 kills/set, 1.2 blocks/set, .275) has also catalyzed the team's success; she and fellow middle Carol Melo (1.0 blocks/set) help put the Raiders at No. 11 on the NAIA's blocks leaderboard at 2.4 per set. Junior setter Hannah Randall also continues to star: In eight matches playing every rotation, she has averaged 10.1 assists per set.
Tournament History: SOU is making its 12th appearance at the national tournament and is visiting the final site for the 11th time. The Raiders have gotten out of pool play on three occasions, and in 2018 reached the quarterfinal round for the first time in team history. In 2019, their most recent appearance, they advanced to the Round of 16.