Game Time...The Northwestern College Red Raiders will face in the NAIA Region III Volleyball Tournament championship against 11th-ranked National American at 7:00pm at the Sioux Falls Christian gymnasium. The game can be heard over the NWC webcast...the tie-break match this morning was not available due to phone line issues at the site but those have been resolved.
Tournament Trail...Northwestern advanced to the championship match after they defeated top-seed and seventh ranked Dickinson State, 30-24, in a single game, tie-breaking match this morning. The Red Raiders, seeded fourth in the six team field, went 1-1 in pool play yesterday, falling to Dordt 3-1 but then defeated Dickinson State, 3-0. Since all teams were 1-1 in poll play, Dordt and Dickinson State played in a single game, elimination match at 10:00am in which the Blue Hawks defeated Dordt, 30-26. Northwestern then defeated Dickinson to advance to the championship match.
Scouting Report...National American went 2-0 in pool B play as they defeated GPAC schools, Hastings College (3-0, 30-25,30-22,30-18) and then knocked off Morningside last night, 3-0 (30-28,30-28, 31-29). The Mavericks are the defending national champions and have a 22-10 overall record this season as an Independent (no conference affiliation). Like Dickinson State, they are a team loaded with international players, led by returning All-American Daniela Oliviera, who is averaging 5.4 kills per game. Thais Batistella, an outside hitter from Brazil, is averaging 3.7 kills and is second with a .267 attack percentage. Thamy (pronounced Tami) Viana, also from Brazil and a 2006 All-American, leads the team in blocks (78) and averaged just below three kills per game. Amanda Silva, a sophomore setter from Brazil, quarterbacks the offense and averages 11.3 assists and leads the team with 40 ace serves. Leslie DaSilva, a 6-4 middle hitter who has battled a knee injury all season, will play in the back-row and averages 3.6 digs per game and has served 27 aces. She was a first team All-American in 2006.
Previous Matchup...This will be the second meeting of the season between the two schools as National American defeated NWC, 3-2, in the final game of the Hastings Tournament. The Red Raiders won games one and two, 30-20, but lost the final three games, 31-29, 30-26 and 15-9. Karrisa Davelaar led NWC with 15 kills while Randa Hulstein added 14 kills, two blocks and hit .414 for the match.
What's at Stake...The Red Raiders are now 28-9 and currently 17th in the latest NAIA poll. With a win tonight, NWC will advance to the NAIA National Tournament played later this month in Columbia, Mo. A loss tonight will most likely end their season as it looks like the higher-ranked Dickinson State squad will get the at-large bid, if available, for Region III.
2007 media guide
