2019 NAIA Volleyball Championships
Sioux City, Iowa
POOL C
 
No. 15 Concordia (Neb.)     23-6
Great Plains Athletic Conference
December 3, 2019
7:30 PM MST

No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan      34-1
Crossroads League
December 4, 2019
5:00 PM MST

Saint Mary (Kan.)                 30-10
Great Plains Athletic Conference
December 5, 2019
7:00 PM MST

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The NAIA National Tournament
The 40th NAIA National Volleyball Championship in Sioux City, Iowa starts on December 3rd at the Tyson Events Center. The tournament features 32 teams that advanced to the final site. The first three days of the tournament will consist of pool play. Pools are made up of four teams and each of those four teams will compete against each other through the first three days. The two teams that have the best record or win on a tie break scenario advance to the Round of 16. The Round of 16 is the beginning of single elimination bracket play with winners advancing to the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds.
 
Return of the Orediggers
Montana Tech returns to the NAIA National Volleyball Championships for the third time in the last four seasons. The Orediggers made it to Sioux City in 2016 and 2017. Montana Tech is one of 15 teams in this year's tournament field that have advanced out of pool play before.
 
Scouting No. 15 Concordia (Neb.)  (23-6)
The No. 15 Concordia Bulldogs enter the NAIA National Volleyball Championship after compiling a 23-6 overall record and is looking for the school's first ever victory on the national stage. Concordia ranks 15th in Hitting Percentage (.232) and 16th in Kills per Game (13.53) in the NAIA. Five Bulldogs have tallied over 190 kills: Emmie Noyd (346), Camryn Opfer (280), Kara Stark (249), Kalee Wiltfong (240) and Arleigh Costello (191). Concordia is coached by head coach Ben Boldt and assistant coach Angie Boldt who are both in their second season. 
 
Scouting No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan (34-1)
The No. 3 Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan are the #1 seed in Pool C after compiling a 34-1 record on their way to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship. The Wildcats only loss came to conference rival Marian (Ind.) who also made the final site at Sioux City. Indiana Wesleyan is coached by Candace Moats who has compiled a collegiate coaching record of 877-351 and is 556-196 at IWU. IWU ranks first in the nation in Assists per Game (13.8) and Kills per Game (14.7).
 
Scouting Saint Mary (Kan.) (30-10)
The Spires of the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) advanced past Dakota State University in straight sets (25-17, 25-22, 25-18) in the Opening Round of the National Tournament. The Spires lost in the championship match of the KCAC Postseason Tournament to Ottawa University. It is the Spires first appearance in the NAIA National Volleyball Championships in program history. The University of Saint Mary ranks third in the NAIA in Total Digs (2,650) and Total Kills (1,824).
 
Solomon's Career Benchmark
Montana Tech head coach Brian Solomon has a career record of 249-168 and is one victory away from 250 career wins. Solomon was named the Coach of the Year by the Frontier Conference after the conference tournament.
 
Earning Plenty of Awards
The Orediggers landed six players on the conference postseason honors list. Sabrina Hopcroft was named Defender of the Year, while Hopcroft, Karina Mickelson and Maureen Jessop were named to the first team. McKenna Kaelber and Gena McMillan were named to the second team.
 
Hopcroft Sits Atop List
Montana Tech libero Sabrina Hopcroft (670) needs just 80 digs to hold the record for most digs in a season set by Kimmy Kavran in 2012 (749). Hopcroft holds the school record with 2,504 career digs.