Monday, November 21, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS – An unprecedented five Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball teams are advancing to the postseason with invitations to the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship, which were announced on Monday.

The five teams will meet with two squads from the California Collegiate Athletic Association and one team from the PacWest Conference in the West Regional Championships from Dec. 1-3 at the Alaska Airlines Center on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage.

For the second straight season, GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage earned the region’s No. 1 seed and the right to host the regional tournament. Making the trip north from the GNAC will be No. 3 seed Western Washington, No. 4 seed Simon Fraser, No. 5 seed Northwest Nazarene and No. 7 seed Central Washington.

The Seawolves (29-2), ranked No. 9 in final AVCA Division II Coaches Poll of the regular season, will face No. 8 seed Chico State in the opening round. The Wildcats advanced after falling to Cal State San Bernadino in the finals of the CCAA Tournament in five sets. Chico State enters the regional with a 23-7 overall record and received votes in the final AVCA poll.

Cal State San Bernardino was the automatic qualifier from the CCAA and is the No. 2 seed in the tournament. The Coyotes, ranked No. 14 in the AVCA poll, will face Central Washington (17-11) in the opening round and enter the tournament with a 24-4 overall record. Cal Baptist (20-8) is the No. 6 seed, earning the PacWest’s automatic qualifier after finishing second in the league to Concordia-Irvine, which is ineligible due to its transition from NAIA membership to Division II.

The Lancers will open against defending West Region champion and Western Washington (21-7). The Lancers and Vikings have met one this season, with WWU winning in five sets at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase. The Vikings enter the tournament ranked No. 16 in the AVCA poll while the Lancers were among teams receiving votes.

The fourth first found match will pit two GNAC programs against each other for the third time this season. Simon Fraser (21-7) and Northwest Nazarene (20-7) finished third and fourth, repsectively, in the conference. The Clan won both regular season meetings between the two teams in three sets and received votes in the latest AVCA poll.

The 2016 championship marks the first time that five GNAC teams have made the postseason in the same season. The league had four teams selected for the 2014 tournament, which was hosted by Northwest Nazarene. This year’s regional is also the third consecutive to be hosted by a GNAC institution. Alaska Anchorage hosted the West Regional last year.

Tickets for the regional go on sale on Tues., Nov. 22, at noon (Alaska time) and can be purchased one of three ways – in person at the Terry Ann Homan Box Office at the Alaska Airlines Center, online at alaskaairlinescenter.com or by phone at 907-891-7410 (fees apply for online and phone sales).

Full tournament passes can be purchased for $30 for adults and $18 for students (any college student with current valid college ID), youth (ages 3-18) and seniors (60 and older). Single-day passes are available for $12 for adults and $7 for students, youth and seniors. Additionally, youth groups, school groups (K-12) and club volleyball teams of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a group rate of $5 apiece. For group rates, contact Chris Gerace at 907-786-7811.

NCAA WEST REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tournament Schedule
Thurs., Dec. 1 – Quarterfinals
Noon: No. 6 Cal Baptist vs. No. 3 Western Washington
2:30 p.m.: No. 7 Central Washington vs. No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino
5 p.m.: No. 5 Northwest Nazarene vs. No. 4 Simon Fraser
7:30 p.m.: No. 8 Chico State vs. No. 1 Alaska Anchorage

Fri., Dec. 2- Semifinals
5 p.m.: Cal Baptist/Western Washington winner vs. Central Washington/Cal State San Bernardino winner
7:30 p.m.: Northwest Nazarene/Simon Fraser winner vs. Chico State/Alaska Anchorage winner

Sat., Dec. 3 – Championship
7 p.m.: Semifinal Winners