Northwestern will be the number one seed when the 2014 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Postseason Volleyball Tournament opens on Saturday, November 8.
The Red Raiders are the number one seed and regular season champions after going 15-1 in conference play and 28-3 overall. Midland will be the two seed after posting a 12-4 conference record and 22-7 overall. The third seed goes to Dordt who went 11-5 in the GPAC and 17-10 overall. The fourth seed is Concordia who went 10-6 in the league and 19-11 overall. The top four seeds will host quarterfinal round matches on Saturday night at 7:30 pm.
The remaining seeds will be #5 Hastings (19-10, 9-7), #6 Briar Cliff (19-11, 8-8), #7 Doane (15-18, 6-10), and #8 Mount Marty (12-20, 4-12). Mount Marty is making their second appearance in the eight team tournament format and first since 2000 (the inaugural year of the GPAC when they were a seven seed).
The 2014 GPAC Volleyball Tournament will feature eight teams. The winner of the tournament receives the league’s automatic berth to the NAIA National Volleyball Championship. The GPAC receives one automatic berth this year because the conference is below 12 NAIA volleyball teams. Quarterfinal round play will begin on Saturday, November 8, at the four highest seeds. The semifinals are on Wednesday, November 12, with the Championship on Saturday, November 15.
The NAIA National Volleyball Championship will begin on Saturday, November 22, with opening round matches at 12 campus sites across the country. The top 11 teams in the country and Sioux City local host institution will automatically advance to the NAIA National Volleyball Championship, presented by J&L Enterprises, in Sioux City, Iowa, at the Tyson Events Center December 2-6, 2014. The top eleven in the NAIA final poll, and the local Sioux City host team (Briar Cliff), will be joined by the 12 winners of the opening round matches which will be played on November 22.
GPAC Volleyball Quarterfinals – Saturday, November 8
<Records listed as (Overall, GPAC)>
#8 Mount Marty (12-20, 4-12) at #1 Northwestern (28-3, 15-1), 7:30pm
#5 Hastings (19-10, 9-7) at #4 Concordia (19-11, 10-6), 7:30pm
#6 Briar Cliff (19-11, 8-8) at #3 Dordt (17-10, 11-5), 7:30pm
#7 Doane (15-18, 6-10) at #2 Midland (22-7, 12-4), 7:30pm