Joplin, M.O. – Pool play kicked off on Wednesday, November 20 at the 2024 NCCAA DII Women’s Volleyball National Championship, with #5 Manhattan Christian College defeating #4 Bob Jones University 3-0,  #3 Boyce College knocking off #6 Pensacola Christian  College 3-1, #1 Randall University beating #8 Grace Christian University 3-1, #2 Arlington Baptist University rolling over #7 Faith Baptist Bible College 3-0, and a pair of upsets as #5 Manhattan Christian College defeated #1 Randall University 3-2, and #6 Pensacola Christian College picked up the 3-1 win over #2 Arlington Baptist University.
 
#5 Manhattan Christian College 3, #4 Bob Jones University 0
 
In a rematch of the 2023 NCCAA DII Women’s Volleyball National Championship, it was #5 Manhattan Christian College taking the victory, rolling to a 3-0 win over defending national champion #4 Bob Jones University to open pool play. 
 

• The Bruins did not lead the first set until going ahead 24-23 off an attack error by Manhattan Christian. The Thunder responded by scoring three straight points to take set one 26-24.
• Manhattan Christian clinched the second set 25-12 to go up 2-0 thanks to a kill from Hannah Beukelman
• MCC tied the match 18-18 in set three, but an ace from Anne Lloyd put BJU ahead 21-19. The Thunder responded with five straight points and a kill from Lubbers gave Manhattan Christian the 26-24 set victory and the 3-0 sweep.
• Lubbers led the way for the Thunder with 13 kills, 10 digs and 2 blocks. Faith Blalock had 10 kills and 9 digs for the Bruins.

 
#3 Boyce College 3, #6 Pensacola Christian College 1
 
After going down 1-0, #3 Boyce College rattled off three straight set wins to knock off #6 Pensacola Christian College 3-1.
 

• Boyce College struggled in the first set, hitting -.300 and committing 12 errors in the opening stanza, falling to Pensacola Christian 25-18.
• The Bulldogs closed the match hitting .314 in the third set and .333 in the final set, winning the final three sets 25-22, 26-24, and 25-18. 
• Sydney Anderson recorded two solo blocks and picked up three block assists for the Eagles. Anderson also picked up 14 kills in the match.
• Olivia Rau tallied 16 kills and 15 digs in the win for Boyce, while Madeline Molyneux added 13 kills and 14 digs.

 
#1 Randall University 3, #8 Grace Christian University 1
 
Top-seeded Randall University was tested in their first match of the 2024 NCCAA DII Women’s Volleyball Championship, knocking off #8 Grace Christian University 3-1.
 

• After taking set one 25-20, Randall was pushed to extra points in the second frame, picking up a 28-26 win. Grace Christian staved off the sweep with a 27-25 victory, but the Saints finished off the contest with a 25-21 decision in the fourth set. 
• Grace Christian picked up 10.0 blocks in the match, led by two solo blocks and three block assists from Lily Hulst. Hulst added 25 assists and 13 digs as well.
• Kearra Zachary and Addyson Day both recorded 15 kills for Randall, with Zachary adding 10 digs. Day hit an impressive .314 in the contest.

 
#2 Arlington Baptist University 3, #7 Faith Baptist Bible College 0
 
Second-seeded Arlington Baptist University rolled to a 3-0 victory over #7 Faith Baptist Bible College on the opening day of the 2024 NCCAA DII Women’s Volleyball National Championship.
 

• Arlington Baptist hit .239 in the contest, recording 12.0 team blocks, winning 25-15, 25-22, and 25-16. 
• Teagan Hill picked up four solo blocks and three block assists, along with nine kills. Tara Tackett recorded three solo blocks and two block assists.
• Codie Wirges tallied 10 kills and 15 digs for the Eagles. Victoria Nerem added 14 assists.

 
#5 Manhattan Christian College 3, # 1 Randall University 2
 
In an exciting five-set thriller, #5 Manhattan Christian College pulled off the 3-2 upset victory over #1 Randall University to move to 2-0 on the day.
 

• Manhattan Christian took the first set 25-23, before Randall rolled 25-9 in the second set. The Saints hit an astounding .452 in the second frame, recording 14 kills and zero attack errors.
• The Thunder responded with a 25-19 win in set three, but Randall staved off the end of the match with a 26-24 win in set four. Manhattan Christian took advantage of seven attack errors by the Saints in the fifth set, and the Thunder held on to take the final stanza 15-11.
• Jacey Schurle finished the night with 18 kills, five digs, and five block assists in the match for MCC. Jozie Kanode dug up 16 balls and finished with four of the Thunder’s nine total service aces. Abby Blake had 21 digs in the match as well.
• Despite the loss, Katelyn Crosby picked up three solo blocks and eight block assists along with eight kills for Randall. Kearra Zachary picked up 16 kills and 17 digs, while Kylie Thompson had 39 assists and 12 digs.

 
#6 Pensacola Christian College 3, #2 Arlington Baptist University 1
 
Despite falling in the first set, #6 Pensacola Christian College picked up a 3-1 upset victory over #2 Arlington Baptist University to close out day one of pool play.

• Pensacola Christian dropped the first set 25-15, but rolled to 25-18 and 25-11 decisions in the next two sets. The Eagles won the final set 25-21, thanks to an ace from Grace Loo.
• Both teams combined for 21 service aces, with 11 for Pensacola Christian and 10 for Arlington Baptist. Hope Brooks finished with six aces for the Eagles, while Keira Roberson had five aces for the Patriots.
• Lyssie Metzker recorded 12 kills and 13 digs in the win for Pensacola Christian, while Allie Whiting tallied eight kills and 13 digs.

 
Pool play concludes at the 2024 NCCAA DII Women’s Volleyball National Championship Thursday, November 21, with the final six matches of pool play. Action begins at 9:30 AM ET. Full results, and links to live stats and video can be found here.
 
About the NCCAA
Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ. The NCCAA currently holds 23 national championship events, along with two national invitationals for 92 member schools across 28 states and two Canadian provinces. For more information on the NCCAA, visit our website, thenccaa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @thenccaa.