COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Officials with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) have announced the seedings and pairings for the NJCAA Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship Tournament Nov. 15-17 at the West Plains Civic Center in West Plains, Mo.

The tournament is being hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains, which previously hosted the event from 2000-2006 and in 2010 and 2011.  The Grizzlies (25-9) are returning to the tournament after a two-year absence after winning both the Region 16 and District N championships this past weekend.  They are seeded ninth and will face eighth seed Hillsborough Community College (27-12), Tampa, Fla., at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the opening round.

“We were very excited to find out who our first-round opponent is and when we play,” Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann said.  “We look forward to a great match with No. 8 Hillsborough Community College.  They are talented and well coached, so we will continue to work hard to prepare over the next week.”

Seeded No. 1 in the three-day event is College of Southern Idaho (29-1), Twin Falls.  The Golden Eagles are followed by Western Nebraska Community College (37-2), Scottsbluff, at No. 2; No. 3 Iowa Western Community College (43-2), Council Bluffs; No. 4 San Jacinto College-Central (32-2), Pasadena, Texas; No. 5 Tyler Junior College (29-5), Tyler, Texas; No. 6 College of Central Florida (33-6), Ocala; No. 7 North Idaho College (22-5), Coeur D’Alene; No. 10 Hutchinson Community College (27-8), Hutchinson, Kan.; No. 11 Western Texas College (26-8), Snyder; No. 12 Redlands Community College (23-9), El Reno, Okla.; No. 13 Casper College, (23-17), Casper, Wyo.; No. 14 Temple College (22-17), Temple, Texas; No. 15 Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (33-6), Hanceville, Ala.; and No. 16 Faulkner State Community College (27-7), Bay Minette, Ala.

Other first-round matches scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15, include Iowa Western vs. Temple and Central Florida vs. Western Texas at 9 a.m.; North Idaho vs. Hutchinson and Western Nebraska vs. Wallace State at 11 a.m.; Southern Idaho vs. Faulkner State at 1 p.m.; and Tyler vs. Redlands and San Jacinto vs. Casper at 3 p.m.

A post-tournament banquet for the top four teams will be held at the end of competition, according to tournament co-directors Rick and Lois Frazier and Lee Freeman.  The banquet is being sponsored by Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic and Burton Creek Medical Complex.

“Its a great feeling to be back in the national tournament, but we don’t want to settle for just getting there,” Wiedemann said.  “This team has been one of the hardest working teams I’ve been around in 20-plus years of coaching.  When you have a group that is willing to come in every day and put it all on the floor, you will have good things happen.”

TOURNAMENT PASSES

Tournament passes are still available, organizers said.  Passes providing admittance for all three days are available for $35 per person for adults and $15 per person for students with proper ID and senior citizens.  Children under age six will be admitted free.  Single-day passes also will be available for $15 per person for adults and $5 per person for students and senior citizens.  Tickets may be purchased in advanced at the Drago College Store, 411 W. Main St.; call 417-255-7227.  Tickets also will be available for purchase at the gate.

Area residents who cannot attend matches until late afternoon and evening hours can take advantage of discounted ticket prices.  All tickets after 5 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 will be $5 each for adults and $3 each for students with proper ID and senior citizens.  These same discounted ticket prices will be available after 3 p.m. Nov. 17.  Children under age six will continue to be admitted free.

Wiedemann said volunteers are still needed to work various aspects of the tournament, as well.  Those interested can contact Grizzly Athletics secretary Chris Turner at 417-255-7975 or via e-mail christurner@missouristate.edu, or they may contact Wiedemann at 417-255-7950 or via e-mail at paulawiedemann@missouristate.edu.

For more information about the tournament, visit the website at http://njcaavbd1.com/.