Madonna, SCAD, APU Win in Pool C at 2005 NAIA Volleyball National Championship

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The first day of pool play saw Pool C with the only upset of the day when sixth-seeded and second-ranked National American University (N.D.) dropped its first match of pool play 2-3 to Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) at the 26th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship. Hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University, the tournament is being played on campus in Golden Gymnasium November 30-December 3.

SCAD took a two game lead before dropping the next two to force the deciding game for 30-23, 30-26, 26-30, 23-30, 15-12 wins.  Katie Richardson led SCAD with 16 kills and nine assisted blocks.  Three SCAD players recorded double digit digs with Frida Sigurdardotir, Dina Lamanna and Ally Schrammer getting 11 each in the win to improve to 25-9.  The loss was only the second for NAU, but comes on the heels of an upset loss in the Region III final match.  Daniela Oliveira and Leslie DaSilva led all hitters with 27 kills for National American, while Tatiani Santos recorded 14 digs.  NAU falls to 37-2 and will face Indiana University Southeast on Thursday in pool play.

Third-seeded Madonna University (Mich.) opened the tournament with a sounding 3-0 victory against Indiana Southeast, winning 30-18, 34-32, 30-25.  Natalja Tinina led Madonna with a match-high 18 kills and 18 digs.  Jenni Mobbs led IU Southeast with 16 kills and nine digs in the Grenadiers first match of the day.

Indiana Southeast lost later in the day, 3-0 to Azusa Pacific University (Calif.).  Game scores were 30-16, 30-15, 30-27.  APU recorded 64 kills in the three-game match as four players had double-digit kills.  Colleen Walker led all hitters with 17 kills and added 10 digs.  Chelsea Morgan, Jessica DeJager and Jenny Brickner added 16, 13 and 11 kills respectively as APU improved to 25-9.  Azusa Pacific will play two matches on Thursday against Madonna and National American.  Indiana Southeast was once again led by Mobbs with six kills and 12 digs while Stephanie Baton also added six kills and 10 digs.  IU Southeast falls to 32-7 and will face National American on Thursday.

Madonna ended the night with a 3-0 victory against Savannah Art and Design, 30-12, 30-26, 30-20.  Senior outside hitter Tinina had 11 kills to break the school record for career kills with 2,860.  Ashley Frost handed out 22 assists in the win as the Crusaders continued its undefeated season at 46-0.  SCAD was led by Cristina Payne with 11 kills and 13 digs in the losing effort.  SCAD ended the night with a 25-10 season record.

POOL C Results

Madonna (Mich.) def. Indiana Southeast, 3-0 (30-18, 34-32, 30-25)

Azusa Pacific (Calif.) def. Indiana Southeast, 3-0 (30-16, 30-15, 30-27)
Savannah Art and Design (Ga.) def. National American (N.D.), 3-2 (30-23, 30-26, 26-30, 23-30, 15-12)

Madonna def. Savannah Art and Design (Ga.), 3-0 (30-12, 30-26, 30-20)

POOL C Thursday Schedule

Indiana Southeast vs. National American, 11:15 a.m.

Madonna vs. Azusa Pacific, 1:30 p.m.

Savannah Art and Design vs. IU Southeast, 3:45 p.m.

Azusa Pacific vs. National American, 8:15 p.m.

POOL C Standings

Madonna 2-0

Azusa Pacific 1-0

Savannah Art and Design 1-1

National American 0-1

Indiana Southeast 0-2