KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [Results] Twenty-four of the 48 teams that competed in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Championship Opening Round won their match on Saturday at campus sites around the country and advance to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa on November 30.

The action inside the Tyson Events Center starts with two days of pool play from November 30 – December 1. The top team in each pool will advance to the elimination bracket on December 2, the semifinals will be played on December 3 and the national champion will be crowned December 4 with the first serve set for 7 p.m. CST on ESPN3.

This year's championship field includes 36 automatic qualifiers and 12 at-large selections. The automatic berths are determined by regular-season champions or runner-ups, conference tournament title winners or runner-ups, or by conference selection. The remaining at-large bids were determined by a selection committee made up of coaches and administrators from across the country.

Opening Round Highlights

• This is the second year that all qualifying teams must play in opening round matches.
• There were three visiting teams that won their matches: Life (Ga.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Texas Wesleyan.
• Seventeen matches were won in three sets, five matches were won in four sets and two matches were won in five sets.
• Opening Round Individual Quick Leaders:

• • Aces – Sidney Branson, Columbia (Mo.), 5 aces
  • Kills – Nadia Atton, St. Xavier (Ill.), 21 total/5.25 per set
  • Assists - McKenna Kaelber, Montana Tech, 58 total/11.6 per set
  • Digs – Chevy Wagner-Chun, Grand View (Iowa), 37 total/9.25 per set
  • Blocks – Jordan Wolfe, Central Methodist (Mo.), 6 total

• Opening Round Team Quick Leaders:
• • Kills – 69 Montana Tech
  • Hitting Percentage – 0.382 (41-7-89) Northwestern (Iowa)
  • Assists – 67 Marian (Ind.) and Montana Tech
  • Digs – 110 Grand View (Iowa)
  • Aces – 13 Central Methodist (Mo.)
  • Blocks – 28 Central Methodist (Mo.)
• In their first year as a qualifier, Life (Ga.), Oregon Tech and Ottawa (Ariz.) advance to the final site after sweeping their opponents in straight sets.
• Of the teams that won their opening round match, Bellevue (Neb.) has competed in the most opening round matches with a total of 11 and a record of 8-3. Indiana Wesleyan follows with seven appearances and a record of 6-1.
• Sixteen teams are undefeated in opening rounds: Central Methodist (Mo.), College of Saint Mary (Neb.), Corban (Ore.), Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Eastern Oregon, Life (Ga.), Marian (Ind.), Midland (Neb.), Missouri Baptist, Montana Tech, Northwestern (Iowa), Oregon Tech, Ottawa (Ariz.), Park (Mo.), Providence (Mont.), Viterbo (Wis.)
• Four teams are advancing to the final site after their first opening round appearance: Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Life (Ga.), Oregon Tech and Ottawa (Ariz.)
• The pool play placements and schedule will be announced on Sunday, November 21, by 5 p.m. central on naia.org.