The Malone University volleyball team will travel to Kissimmee, Florida this week to take part in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) National Tournament.  The Pioneers, currently 22-10 overall, are seeded seventh among the tournament's 10-team field.  Malone earned an automatic bid to the national event after downing Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College in four sets in the NCCAA East Region Championship Game on Nov. 17th, marking the third NCCAA East Region Title in program history and second in two years.

In addition to Malone, the national tournament field also consists of No. 1 seed Fresno Pacific (CA) University, No. 2 seed Shorter (GA) University, No. 3 seed Trinity Christian (IL) College, No. 4 seed Campbellsville (KY) University, No. 5 seed Oakland City (IN) University, No. 6 seed Bethel (IN) College, No. 8 seed Grace (IN) College, No. 9 seed Southern Wesleyan (SC) University and No. 10 seed McMurry (TX) University.

The teams will take part in pool play matches on Thursday and Friday.  The two squads with the best record from each of the five-team pools will then move on to Saturday's semifinal round.  The Championship Game is slated for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1st.

Pool A includes Fresno Pacific, Campbellsville, Oakland City, Grace and Southern Wesleyan while Pool B is made up of Malone, Shorter, Trinity Christian, Bethel and McMurry.

The Pioneers are slated to open the event on Thursday with a 10:00 a.m. contest against Trinity Christian College. After starting the season 1-4, the Trolls went on a tear winning 29 of their last 33 contests to finish with an overall record of 30-8. They defeated Bethel College in straight sets in their NCCAA Regional Tournament to automatically qualify for Nationals. Taylor Lee leads their team in kills with 278. Jessica Wiltjer is next with 264 and a team-leading 132 blocks.

Malone will then wrap up the opening day of competition with a 4:00 p.m. match against McMurry (20-9). The Warhawks breezed through their NCCAA Regional going 4-0 and defeating Mid-America Christian University in the finals in four sets. M.J. Vickers is McMurry's biggest offensive weapon registering 363 kills on the season. Kasi Conners is second on the team in kills with 207 and first in blocks with 109.

On Friday, the Pioneers will take on Shorter University at 10:00 a.m. in perhaps their toughest test. The Hawks trounced Southern Wesleyan in their Regional final to finish the season 24-5. Jasmine Crook has tallied 395 kills, benefitting from the passes of Jordan Corder and her 1,156 assists.

Malone will then conclude pool play with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Bethel, who despite losing to Trinity Christian in their Regional, managed to receive an at-large bid thanks to their 23-13 overall record. Au Husak leads their team in kills and blocks with 349 and 91 respectively.

Click here for a complete NCCAA National Tournament schedule:  http://www.thenccaa.org/sports/2012/6/26/WVB_0626124613.aspx?path=wvball

2012 will mark Malone's eighth NCCAA National Tournament appearance.  The Pioneers' competed in the NCCAA National Tournament last season but went 0-4, failing to advance from pool play.

Live streaming video of all of the tournament matches will be provided.

Click on the following link to watch:
http://www.tourbeausportsgroup.com/p/womens-volleyball-division-i-ii.html