Statesmen Earn #5 Seed, Will Face Reinhardt and OUAZ in Pool Play
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s volleyball team is back at the final dance after a year removed as it earned an at-large berth to the 5th Annual NAIA National Championship.
WPU, which owns a 22-6 record, collected one of the three at-large bids and enters nationals as the #5 overall seed. The 12-team Championship will be held in Cedar Rapids next Tuesday through Saturday, April 30-May 4 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.
The Statesmen open Pool D competition next Wednesday against #12 Reinhardt (Ga.) at 4 p.m. They then meet #4 seed Ottawa (Ariz.) next Thursday at 4 p.m. The winner of each pool then advances to next Friday’s semifinals, while the title match will be held next Saturday, May 3.
William Penn, which also qualified for nationals in 2022, is 0-2 all-time at the Championship.
Fans can purchase all-day tickets in advance at https://www.creventslive.com/events/2024/naia-mens-volleyball-championships
William Penn
Luke Bentley is in his fifth year as head coach of the Statesmen, owning a 77-57 record entering nationals.
WPU had five all-Heart of America Athletic Conference honorees, including Player of the Year Landon Krause. He leads the squad with 378 kills.
The Statesmen, who won eight matches in a row at one point, have outhit their opponents .311-.191.
Ottawa (Ariz.)
The Spirit, who are 19-6 overall, are headed by Kyle Steele in his seventh season (112-46 career record). OUAZ is making its third nationals appearance with a 2-2 all-time record.
OUAZ, which earned an at-large berth out of the Golden State Athletic Conference, had three individuals earn all-GSAC awards. Addah Nestor leads the Spirit with 308 kills, while the team owns a .317-.216 attacking edge over its opponents.
The Spirit won a season-best 13 matches in a row at one point this spring.
Reinhardt
The Eagles, with a 28-1 record, are making their first trip to the Championship.
An automatic bid recipient by winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference, Reinhardt had seven players earn all-AAC recognition. Rodolfo Biegelmeyer, who has a team-high 352 kills, was tabbed as the league’s Player of the Year. RU outhits its opposition by a .304-.136 margin.
The Eagles enter nationals as the hottest team in the NAIA, riding a 24-match winning streak.
