By Nikki Sherrill, Communications & Sports Information Intern
NAIA Match of the Week, presented by Stretch Internet – No. 2
Northwest (Wash.) (5-2, 2-0 CCC) at (RV) Southern Oregon (4-5, 1-1 CCC)
Saturday, Sept. 10 | 5 p.m. PT | Ashland, Ore.
Live Video and
Stats – Provided by Southern Oregon
• The 2016 season marks the second year of the NAIA Network Volleyball Match of the Week, presented by Stretch Internet. These contests highlight member schools that utilize Stretch Internet – the NAIA’s official video partner for 24-of-25 national championships – as their online video partner. At least one of the two schools in the Match of the Week is a Stretch Internet client.
• The NAIA Network (
www.NAIANetwork.com) is the official video-streaming portal of the NAIA.
• In the second installment of the Match of the Week, Northwest (Wash.) travels to (RV) Southern Oregon for a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) early season matchup.
• The Raiders of Southern Oregon started their 2016 season at the Biola Summer Slam where they went 3-1, defeating then-No. 9 Vanguard (Calif.) and then-No. 24 Northwestern (Iowa). In early conference play, Southern Oregon is 1-1 in the CCC.
• Northwest also went 3-1 in a preseason classic, defeating Dickinson State (N.D.) and Montana State Northern both 3-0. They also beat Great Falls (Mont.) before losing to Rocky Mountain (Mont.).
• Northwest's Leia Roy leads the CCC in digs per set with a 5.1 average and 133 so far this season. This stat is also good enough for Roy to be ranked No. 38 nationally. Morgan Pilon ranks No. 24 in assists per match (10.0) and Keann White also ranks No. 24, but in blocks per set (1.2).
• For the Raiders, three players are ranked nationally in statistical categories. Emma Gasman ranks No. 12 in blocks per set (1.4) and No. 22 in total blocks (43). Courtney Macklin is No. 25 in blocks per set (1.2) and No. 34 in total blocks (37). Also, Lauren McGowen ranked No. 33 in assists per set (9.5) and No 46 in total assists (293).
• Looking at team stats, Southern Oregon is ranked No. 6 in blocks per set (2.7) and No. 17 in total blocks (85). For the Eagles, they hold the No. 25 ranking in blocks per set (2.2), No. 46 in digs per match (16.7) and No. 49 in assists per match (11.4).
• In the CCC preseason poll, Southern Oregon and Northwest were picked close to each other, with the Raiders being selected No. 3 and the Eagles coming in at No. 4. In the first regular season conference poll, Southern Oregon moved down to No. 4, while Northwest stayed right behind them at No. 5 in the CCC.
• The last time these two programs met, Southern Oregon went to four sets with Northwest before winning the match 3-1. The teams play a home-away series this season with the second matchup coming Oct. 7 in Kirkland, Wash.
Additional notes from around NAIA Volleyball
(Through matches played Sept. 5, 2016)
• Nine teams remain undefeated with No. 1 Midland (Neb.) and No. 3 Westmont (Calif.) leading the way with an 11-0 record.
•Defending national champions Columbia (Mo.) dropped out of the top 25 after being named preseason No. 1. This is the first time Columbia has not been ranked since the preseason poll in 2007.
• No. 1 Midland is making its first ever appearance in the top spot after moving up five places from No. 6 in the first regular season coaches' poll. The Warriors received 11 first-place votes and 580 overall points. For the full top 25 release, click
here.
•The Great Plains Athletic Conference has four teams ranked in the top 25 this week. The conference will see a top five matchup when No. 1 Midland travels to No. 4 Hastings (Neb.) Wednesday night.
•Wendy Romero of No. 7 Park (Mo.) had two NAIA match highs last week. In a win over No. 11 Lourdes (Ohio), Romero had 37 total points and 35 kills in the match to help the Pirates to a 3-1 win.
•The first national players of the week were announced Tuesday with Midland's Priscilla O'Dowd earning Attacker of the Week, Nicole Warren of Jamestown (N.D.) being named Defender of the Week and the Setter of the Week went to Meghan Birr of Lourdes. For the complete release, click
here.
• Other Top 25 Matches This Week:
o Wednesday – No. 8 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) vs. No. 7 Park (Mo.)
o Wednesday – No. 4 Hastings (Neb.) vs. No. 1 Midland (Neb.)
o Friday – No. 8 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) vs. No. 4 Hastings (Neb.)
o Friday – No. 17 Madonna (Mich.) vs. No. 5 Viterbo (Wis.)
o Friday – No. 24 Corban (Ore.) vs. No. 6 Eastern Oregon
o Friday – No. 18 Oklahoma City vs. No. 7 Park (Mo.)
o Friday – No. 23 Jamestown (N.D.) vs. No. 16 Carroll (Mont.)
o Friday– (RV) Evangel (Mo.) vs. No. 19 Bellevue (Neb.)
o Saturday – No. 14 Dordt (Iowa) vs. No. 9 Grand View (Iowa)
o Saturday – No. 24 Corban (Ore.) vs. No. 12 College of Idaho
NAIA Volleyball Match of the Week results:
o Week 1– No. 4 Viterbo (Wisc.) defeated No. 1 Columbia (Mo.), 3-0.
• For a complete list of NAIA Volleyball statistical leaders,
click here.
• For the ninth-straight year, Sioux City, Iowa, will once again play host to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship, now in its 37
th year. The event will take place Nov. 29-Dec. 3 at the Tyson Events Center. Campus sites will host the National Championship Opening Round which will take place Nov. 19. For more information on the national championship,
click here.