The Park University No. 3 nationally ranked Park University men's volleyball team are getting ready to head to West Des Moines, Iowa for the 2023 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Tournament, beginning Tuesday, April 11 through Saturday, April 15.
The Pirates are one of four teams that have qualified for each of the national tournaments since the sport moved to NAIA Championship status in 2019. Besides 2018, the Pirates have qualified for every national tournament since 2000 during the men's volleyball emerging sport and invitational eras.
The Pirates have been placed in Pool D and will face Webber International University (Fla.) and No. 5 Ottawa University (Ariz.). All matches will be played in West Des Moines, Iowa at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex.
Pool D
4. Park (Mo.)
5. OUAZ (Ariz.)
12. Webber (Fla.)
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Webber (Fla.)
Webber out of the Appalachian Athletic Conference earned an automatic berth into the championship tournament by winning the AAC Conference Tournament Championship. After their first conference tournament championship victory, they also gain entry to their first NAIA National Championship Tournament appearance since 2019.
The Warriors are 11-5 on the season and closed conference play with a 6-4 AAC record. Webber had five all-conference award winners, two members on first team and three Warriors on second team. They also claimed the AAC Freshman of the Year.
This marks the first-ever match between Park and Webber to open tournament play on Tuesday.
OUAZ (Ariz.)
The Spirit closed out the final NAIA Top 15 poll ranked No. 5 in the nation and is also where they land as the No. 5 seed in the national tournament. OUAZ is coming off of a 13-8 season and 5-5 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
The Spirit made a semifinal appearance in the GSAC tournament, falling to The Master's (Calif.) and the eventual 2023 GSAC Conference Tournament Champion. OUAZ are an at-large berth in this year's tournament and now appear in their second straight national championship tournament.
Park and the Spirit have brief history with two matches played, all in 2023. Park earned a 3-1 victory in Breckon Sports Center in 2022 and then the Pirates upset the higher seeded Spirit in 2022 NAIA National Championship Pool Play in a 3-2 match.
NAIA National Championship Information
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NAIA Network– the association's official video-streaming home – will broadcast all matches excluding the championship match live at the 2023 NAIA Men's Volleyball Championship in West Des Moines, Iowa. The video platform, powered by Presto allows users access to live video, statistics and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single-day passes can be purchased for $9.95 and a championship package is available at $29.95. The championship match includes all pool play and semifinal matches.
The championship match will be streamed on ESPN3.
Visitors Guide
Pool Play Schedule
NAIA Championship Program
#ParkUNation
