WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team will make it’s 15th appearance at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship Tournament Nov. 19-21, and everyone is invited to come and give the team a rousing send-off beginning at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, in the Student Recreation Center at the corner of Garfield Avenue and West Trish Knight Street.
The Grizzlies, 25-9 and ranked 10th in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll, punched their ticket to the tournament by defeating Monroe College 28-26, 25-27, 25-17, 25-19 for the NJCAA District N championship Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7, in New Rochelle, New York.
“We are extremely proud of our Lady Grizzlies this year and for Head Coach Paula Wiedemann’s sustained record of excellence for many years. We have a GREAT team and a GREAT coach! Maybe 15 will be our lucky number!,” Chancellor Drew Bennett said.
The send-off will include brief remarks by Bennett; West Plains Mayor Jack Pahlmann, who will present a proclamation to the team; Student Government Association President Casey Buehler; Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker; and Wiedemann. Special “good luck” mementos also will be given to each team member.
The national tournament will get underway Thursday, Nov. 19, in Casper, Wyo., with Casper College as host. The is the final season of a three-year contract awarded by NJCAA officials to Casper College to host the tournament. Seedings and pairings have yet to be announced by NJCAA officials.
“We are so excited about going to the national tournament and appreciate all the tremendous support and encouragement we have received getting to this point,” Wiedemann said. “Even though we will be many miles away, we know there will be a lot of people with us in spirit, and for that we are grateful. We are representing our university and our community, and we are very proud to do so!”
For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball team, visit the team’s website at http://wp.missouristate.edu/grizzly/vb/. For more information about the national tournament, visit http://njcaacasper.net/.