Sioux Center Iowa — The Dordt College Defender volleyball team was awarded an at-large berth for the 2015 NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The Defenders will host Mount Mercy of Iowa in the opening round of the 36-team event on Saturday, November 21st.
The Defenders, ranked no. 13 in the final NAIA-Tachikara Volleyball Coaches’ Poll with a 23-5 record, is making its 11th appearance in the tournament and will be hosting an opening round contest for the fourth time since the event began featuring the opening round elimination format in 2008.
Dordt was the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular season champion with a 14-2 record and will face Mount Mercy at 7:30 pm at the De Witt Gym. Mount Mercy earned a berth while competing in the Association of Independent Institutions. The Mustangs are making their first ever appearance in the National Championship and have a 31-11 record.
Also in the national field from the GPAC will be Concordia, Hastings, Midland and Briar Cliff who is the host team once the nationals reach the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City.
24 teams will compete in the opening round of the event with the 12 winners advancing to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa. Those 12 teams along with the 11 top seeds and Briar Cliff will comprise the 24 team field at the championship final site. Pool play will be played from December 1st through the 3rd with elimination play the Tyson Event Center beginning on December 4th. The national champion will be crowned on December 5th.
