Dec. 2, 2005
Texas Wesleyan, Missouri Baptist Advance from Pool D at NAIA Volleyball
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -Unseeded Texas Wesleyan University finished with a perfect 4-0 pool play record and Missouri Baptist went 3-1 in Pool D to advance to the quarterfinals of the 26th Annual NAIA Volleyball National Championship. The tournament is hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University and is being played on campus in Golden Gymnasium November 30 - December 3.
Texas Wesleyan was one of three teams to go undefeated through the pool, joining Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) and Columbia College (Mo.) from Pool A and B at 4-0. The Rams, along with Houston Baptist University (Texas) become the only unseeded teams to advance in this tournament. TWU entered its eighth tournament with five previous quarterfinal appearances, including two trips to the championship game (1982, 1990). Paced by Whitney Johansen, the Rams improved to 35-2 on the year.
No. 5-seeded Missouri Baptist took a 3-0 match record into today's contest with Texas Wesleyan, but could not overcome the Cinderella team. The Spartans may be making only their second tournament appearance, but the team stormed through their first three matches, dropping only three games until the Texas Wesleyan defeat. Mo Bap stands at 37-6.
Fourth-seeded Dordt started off strong, winning its first two matches before dropping the final two to finish at 2-2 and third in the pool. The Defenders entered the tournament on a high after beating National American University (S.D.) in the Region III championship. Tara De Boer was outstanding, scoring 5.7 points per game and averaging 4.86 kills per game. De Boer also record 13 blocks as Dordt finished the 2005 campaign at 25-15.
Host Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) ended at 1-3 in the pool for fourth place. The Sea Lions dropped the opener to Missouri Baptist and did the same with Dordt. The lone victory came against Iowa Wesleyan University. PLNU concludes its four-year stint as host of the tournament with a 22-16 season record.
Iowa Wesleyan University finished its year with four losses at the national tournament, going 0-4 during pool play. In their second consecutive tournament appearance, Iowa Wesleyan was outmatched, winning just two games throughout the three days. The Tigers dropped to 22-13 for the season.
POOL D Final Standings
Texas Wesleyan 4-0; Missouri Baptist 3-1; Dordt 2-2; Point Loma Nazarene 1-3; Iowa Wesleyan 0-4
POOL D Results
Dordt (Iowa) def. Iowa Wesleyan, 3-1 (30-26, 25-30, 30-22, 30-24)
Texas Wesleyan def. Iowa Wesleyan, 3-0 (30-24, 30-20, 30-22)
Missouri Baptist def. Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), 3-0 (30-25, 30-27, 30-22)
Dordt def. Point Loma Nazarene, 3-1 (26-30, 30-18, 30-24, 30-19)
Missouri Baptist def. Iowa Wesleyan, 3-0 (30-25, 30-22, 30-27)
Texas Wesleyan def. Dordt, 3-0 (32-30, 30-27, 32-30)
Point Loma Nazarene def. Iowa Wesleyan, 3-1 (30-25, 30-27, 23-30, 30-15)
Texas Wesleyan def. Missouri Baptist, 3-0 (30-26, 31-29, 30-23)
Missouri Baptist def. Dordt, 3-0 (30-22, 30-20, 30-22)
Texas Wesleyan def. Point Loma Nazarene, 3-0 (30-18, 30-26, 31-29)
