NCAA National Championship Field Set
Four from '05 In Search of Title for Second Straight Year
November 13, 2006

The field is set, their bags are packed, and Virginia’s “Championship City” is ready to rock for three days this week as the NCAA Division III Volleyball National Championship kicks off in the Salem Civic Center.  Eight of the nation’s most talented teams bring their acts to Salem, Virginia, with matches

Steven's Tech's Dawn Herring

beginning on Thursday, November 16, and continuing through Saturday night’s championship final.  With the group of squads on display and the excitement they create buzzing around the arena, how could you manage to stay away!

Standing in everybody’s way are both of last seasons final foes.  The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the 2005 crown holder, looks to make it two straight seasons hoisting the nation’s shiniest piece of hardware.  But Juniata College doesn’t intend to go back to Pennsylvania empty handed for a second year in a row.  The Eagles were denied a title in the slimmest of fashions last year, and will make it exceedingly difficult for the Warhawks to repeat as national champions.

Also back for another dance from last season’s party are Wittenberg University (Ohio) and Washington University-St. Louis.  Wittenberg saw its run end in last year’s semi-finals by Juniata, but the Tigers have only been beaten only once this season and don’t plan on adding a second anytime soon.  This is the 20^th season Washington-St. Louis has been to the national tournament and returns

four regulars from last season’s quarterfinal squad.  The Bears have won 71 total matches over the last two years and are looking for that number to hit 74 by the end of Saturday.

Four new squads bring their show to Salem with each eager to make its mark on the game’s biggest stage.  California Lutheran University makes by far the longest trip, hitching passage from Southern California.  The Regals don’t plan on leaving anytime soon, especially since their trek to the nationals went through 2005 semi-finalist University of La Verne (Calif.) in an earlier round.  Cal

WUSTL's Whitney Smith

Lutheran will immediately be put to the test, squaring off with Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round.

Trinity University (Texas) also upstaged a fellow volleyball power with national experience for a chance at a crown.  The Tigers took care of 2005 quarterfinalist Emory University in their regional final, but Trinity will have little time to rest in Salem with Wittenberg as its first opponent.

The Coast Guard Academy finds itself pitted against Juniata in its opening round, leaving little room for any travel weariness from Connecticut.  Don’t expect the Bears to lay down either, especially considering they’re the first CGA team from any sport to make it to a national quarterfinal round.

Stevens Institute of Technology steps up against Washington-St. Louis in its opening match in Salem, a chance to prove themselves that they surely won’t pass up.  The Ducks made it through an exciting regional in Hoboken, New Jersey, that saw perennial power New York University fall to a driven Washington & Lee University squad.  In any case, Stevens Tech. is ready for its next challenge, regardless of the opponent’s proven pedigree or emotional ride.

Make your way to the Salem Civic Center for any or all of the 2006 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship.  Matches begin Thursday, November 16 at 1:00 p.m., culminating in Saturday’s championship final at 7:00 p.m.  For more information on the tournament, its teams, and match specifics, please visit the online home of the tournament at http://odac.bridgewater.edu/ncaa_vball/.