PREVIEW: Spartans Gear Up for National Championship Pool Play

MBU faces a pair of California schools – No. 10 Vanguard & No. 17 Saint Katherine – in Pool H

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball program begins its quest for a third national title on Wednesday as Pool Play commences at the Tyson Events Center. As the top seed of Pool H, the Spartans are set to play No. 17 University of Saint Katherine (Calif.) on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and No. 10 Vanguard University (Calif.) on Friday at 4 p.m.

The team with the best record in each pool or wins via the tie-break scenario advances to the Quarterfinals, which begin single-elimination bracket play.

NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Sponsor – Council Oak Coffee Supply

Wednesday, Nov. 29 @ 4:00 PM – #8 Missouri Baptist (26-6, 9-0 AMC) vs. #17 Saint Katherine (30-3, 20-0 Cal Pac)
Thursday, Nov. 30 @ 4:00 PM – #10 Vanguard (27-1, 14-0 GSAC) vs. #17 Saint Katherine (30-3, 20-0 Cal Pac)
Friday, Nov. 30 @ 4:00 PM – #8 Missouri Baptist (26-6, 9-0 AMC) vs. #10 Vanguard (27-1, 14-0 GSAC)
Live Stats - MBU vs. Saint Katherine – http://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/wvball/2023-24/boxscores_old/20231129_45j7.xml
Live Video ($) – https://www.naia.org/sports/wvball/stretch_wvball
Live Stats - MBU vs. Vanguard – http://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/wvball/2023-24/boxscores_old/20231201_h73k.xml
Earned the first of two American Midwest Conference automatic bids as regular season champions at 9-0 ; only dropped one set in AMC play
Won in straight sets over University of Mobile (Ala.) in the NAIA Opening Round – 25-17, 25-22, 25-16
15th NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship appearance and 10th consecutive trip to Sioux City
44-25 all-time in the NAIA National Tournament
Won back-to-back national titles in 2020-21 [COVID year] and 2021 defeating Midland and Park, both in thrilling five-set victories
Missouri Baptist has made it out of Pool Play and into at least the Round of 16 in eight of the past nine seasons ; last year was the one off as the Spartans went 0-2 against AMC rival Columbia and Viterbo in Pool G
With sweep of Mobile on Nov. 18, the Spartans are now 6-0 all-time in NAIA Opening Round and 4-0 since the format change to the tournament
MBU is one of 15 teams from the field of 48 that has 10+ championship appearances
Wednesday's match between Missouri Baptist and Saint Katherine will be the first ever meeting between the two teams
MBU and Vanguard have played twice before – once in Sioux City (2014) and once in St. Louis in the regular season (2016)
The Spartans are 2-0 all-time vs. Vanguard
2014 – W, 3-2 [25-22, 26-28, 25-23, 19-25, 15-13] – NAIA National Championship Round of 16 – Sioux City, Iowa
2016 – W, 3-0 [25-18, 25-15, 25-23] – St. Louis, Mo.
MBU played seven teams in the regular season who are a part of the 24-team field in Sioux City: Columbia (3x), Corban, Midland, Park (Mo.), St. Ambrose, St. Thomas, and Viterbo
The Spartans were 4-5 against Final Site competitors with the only other loss in the regular season coming to NCAA D2 Maryville University
MBU is one of six teams at the Final Site that remained in the Top 10 of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Poll all season long
Concordia (Neb.), Eastern Oregon and Northwestern (Iowa) were inside of the Top 5 all year, while MoBap, Park (Mo.) and Viterbo (Wis.) were inside of the Top 10 in each ratings cycle