COLUMBIA, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has crowned a new champion in volleyball for the third straight season.  Fresno Pacific (Calif.) defeated California Baptist, 3-1 (30-28, 25-30, 30-25, 34-32) to capture the 2007 championship.  It's the Sunbirds' third title.

Both teams cruised through the tournament and advanced to the championship match without losing a game, winning every match 3-0.

Fresno Pacific started the match strong and took an early 10-4 lead in the game-one.  California Baptist rallied to tie the game at 25 and went up 28-26 before the Sunbird scored four straight points for game-one victory.  The Lancers answered in game-two and evened the match at one-game apiece with 30-25 win.  Both teams traded points in the third game until California Baptist pulled ahead 18-13.  The Sunbirds answered to tie the game at 22 and took a 2-1 lead with 30-25 win.  In game-four the Lancers fought off three Fresno Pacific match points but it wasn't enough as they fell 34-32.

Marin Canaday led the Sunbirds with 20 kills while Fabiana Leomil and Thais Julio added 16 each.  Tournament MVP Shu Liu assisted on 54 kills and had 16 digs.  Leomil (20), Tiffany Marionos (17), Brittany Pierce (17) and Tartaglia (14) also reached double digits in digs.  The Sunbirds closed out the 2007 season with a 36-1 record and a national title.

Yudelka Bonilla led the match and the Lancers with 32 kills and Vernaia Willis added 28.  Kayla Van Duyn recorded 68 assists and Katrina Clark posted 28 digs for California Baptist.  Bonilla (19) and Willis (16) also reached double digits in digs.  The Eagles dropped to 31-5 overall.

Fresno Pacific is now tied with Columbia College (Mo.) for the most volleyball titles (3) among the current NAIA member.

2007 All-Tournament Team
Kristen Peterson, Jr., MB, Biola (Calif.)
Meghan Warkentin, Jr., OH, Biola (Calif.)
Verania Willis, Sr., OH, California Baptist
Fei Shi, So., OH, California Baptist
Kayla Van Duyn, Sr., S, California Baptist
Luana Branco, Jr., S, Columbia (Mo.)
Traci Weamer, Jr., OH, Concordia (Calif.)
Lindsey Campbell, Sr., MB, Concordia (Calif.)
Marin Canaday, Sr., MB, Fresno Pacific (Calif.)
Erika Kliokmanaite, Sr., OH, Lindenwood (Mo.)
Lubovj Tihomirova, Jr., OH, Madonna (Mich.)
Daniela Oliveira, Jr., OH, National American (S.D.)
Kaitlin Beaver, Fr., OH, Northwestern (Iowa)
Talita Milasauskas, Fr., MB, Texas at Brownsville

Tachikara National Tournament Most Valuable Player
Shu Liu, Jr., S, Fresno Pacific (Calif.)

National Tournament Coach of the Year
Dennis Janzen, Fresno Pacific (Calif.)

National Tournament Champions of Character Award
Concordia (Calif.)

Tournament Schedule and Results
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