WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team will compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Women’s National Volleyball Tournament Nov. 15-17 at the West Plains Civic Center, and everyone is invited to come and show their support for the team during a pep rally at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in front of the Grizzly statue off Trish Knight Street on the Missouri State-West Plains campus.
“As we end the 20th season of Grizzly Volleyball, end the contract cycle as hosts of the national tournament, and enter the 50th anniversary year for Missouri State University-West Plains, it is fitting that the Grizzlies and the university enjoy a time in the national spotlight,” said Dr. Herb Lunday, dean of student services and athletic director. “We encourage everyone in the community and area to come celebrate this achievement with us and express appreciation and good wishes to Coach Paula Wiedemann and the team.”
The national tournament’s first-round action will get underway at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the civic center. The Grizzlies (25-9), seeded ninth in the event, are slated to play No. 8 Hillsborough Community College (27-12), Tampa, Fla., at 1 p.m. Matches will continue each day, with the championship match set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.
The remaining seedings and first-round pairings for Nov. 15 have third seed Iowa Western Community College (43-2), Council Bluffs, facing 14th seed Temple (Texas) College (22-17) at 9 a.m.; sixth seed College of Central Florida (33-6), Ocala, meeting 11th seed Western Texas College (26-8), Snyder, at 9 a.m.; seventh seed North Idaho College (22-5), Coeur d’Alene, facing 10th seed Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College (27-8) at 11 a.m.; second seed Western Nebraska Community College (37-2), Scottsbluff, playing 15th seed Wallace State Community College (33-6), Hanceville, Ala., at 11 a.m.; No. 1 seed College of Southern Idaho (29-1), Twin Falls, meeting No. 16 seed Faulkner State Community College (27-7), Bay Minette, Ala., at 1 p.m.; fifth seed Tyler (Texas) Junior College (29-5) facing 12th seed Redlands Community College (23-9), El Reno, Okla., at 3 p.m.; and fourth seed San Jacinto College-Central (32-2), Pasadena, Texas, playing 13th seed Casper (Wyo.) College (23-17) at 3 p.m.
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://www.njcaavbd1.com/.