NCVF Championships Crowns Seven Winners

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 5, 2010) – The National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF) Collegiate Club Volleyball Championships, run in partnership with USA Volleyball, concluded April 3 by crowning seven champions at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. A total of 266 college club teams competed in this year’s NCVF Collegiate Club Volleyball Championships held April 1-3.

In Men’s Division I, Ohio State claimed the title with a 25-19, 27-25 victory over Lakeland in the gold-medal match. Ohio State reached the final match with a come-from-behind 23-25, 25-21, 15-10 victory over Utah Valley A in the semifinals. Earlier in the day, Ohio State defeated Indiana A 25-17, 22-25, 15-8 to start the gold medal championship pool, followed by a 25-23, 25-20 victory over San Diego State in the quarterfinal round. Lakeland reached championship match by defeating James Madison 25-20, 25-22 in the semifinals and Wisconsin-Whitewater A 19-25, 25-16, 17-15 in the quarterfinal round.

DuPage repeated as the Men’s Division IAA winner with a 29-27, 25-22 victory over Cincinnati in the gold-medal match. DuPage, the division’s top-seeded team, topped West Virginia 25-21, 25-21 in the seminal round to advance to the championship match. In the gold-medal bracket played April 3, DuPage did not lose a single set starting with a 25-19, 25-19 victory over Central Michigan A in the Round of 16, followed by a 25-16, 25-18 victory over Delaware A in the quarterfinals. Cincinnati edged Liberty 29-31, 26-24, 15-8 in its semifinal match to reach the title match.

Sonoma State rallied to win the Men’s Division II championship with a 15-25, 25-21, 15-8 victory over Wisconsin-La Crosse in the gold-medal match, much like it did all day in the gold-medal bracket played April 3. Sonoma State started the day with a 23-25, 25-21, 16-14 victory over Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the Round of 16 before topping Azusa Pacific 25-15, 25-23 in the quarterfinals. Sonoma edged Grove City 27-25, 26-24 in the semifinals to advance to the title match. Wisconsin-La Crosse started the gold-medal bracket with a 25-16, 25-14 victory over Saint Louis University A in the Round of 16, then held off Providence (Canada) 25-20, 23-25, 15-13 in the quarterfinals. Wisconsin-La Crosse eased into the title match with a 25-14, 25-14 victory over Millersville in the semifinals.

Second-seed Wisconsin-Oshkosh B captured the Men’s Division III title with a 25-18, 25-23 victory over top-seeded Illinois B in the gold-medal match. Wisconsin-Oshkosh defeated Cal Poly 25-15, 25-17in the quarterfinal round and advanced to the title match with a 25-23, 25-15 victory over Ohio State B in the semifinals. Illinois B reached the title match with a 26-24, 25-18 victory over Virginia Tech B in the semifinals and 25-16, 25-11 victory over Illinois State B in the quarterfinals.

Cal Poly A took home the gold in the Women’s Division I bracket with a 25-23, 30-28 marathon sweep of Santa Clara in the championship match. Cal Poly advanced to the title match with a 25-16, 25-16 victory over Minnesota A in the semifinals. Cal Poly started the championship day with a 25-19, 25-23 victory over UC Santa Barbara A in the Round of 16 followed by a 25-15, 25-17 win over Marquette A in the quarterfinals. Santa Clara reached the championship match with a 25-21, 25-22 win over UCLA in the semifinals.

Yale earned the gold medal in the Women’s Division II bracket after coming back for a 23-25, 25-20, 15-6 victory over South Carolina in the title match. Yale did not drop a set in the gold bracket on the final day, starting with a 25-17, 25-21 victory over Toledo in the Round of 16. Yale added a 25-13, 25-22 victory over Wisconsin-La Crosse in the quarterfinal round, followed by a 25-20, 25-23 victory over Northern Arizona in the semifinal round. South Carolina tripped West Chester 25-22, 28-26 in the semifinal round to advance to the gold-medal match.

Indiana B tallied a 25-22, 25-23 victory over Ohio State B in the gold-medal match of the Women’s Division III championship. Indiana B slipped past Cal Poly B 25-19, 23-25, 15-11 in the quarterfinal round and swept UC Davis B 25-16, 25-20 in the semifinal round. Ohio State B reached the title match by defeating Miami (Ohio) B 25-22, 25-12 in the quarterfinals and Michigan State 17-25, 25-13, 15-13 in the semifinals.

The championship matches in all seven divisions were broadcast live via Webcast with announcers calling the action. Visit ncvfvolleyball.org/nationals.aspx for the Webcast and full match and bracket results.

Although the 2010 NCFV Collegiate Club Volleyball Championships is the first year to bear the NCVF name, it holds the endorsement of many of the core leadership positions as well as conferences and teams who participated in the past national collegiate club championships. Gary Colberg, the founder of the national collegiate club volleyball championships, completed his 26th year as director of competition. Jose Jones is in his 18th year as assistant tournament director. Ric Washburn is in his eighth year as director of officials.

The NCVF is an organization formed to support and create quality, organized indoor (and coming soon, outdoor) playing opportunities for collegiate club volleyball players across the country. It is made up of students, volleyball conference commissioners, player representatives, coaches, officials, trainers, recreation sports directors and many volunteers. The organization devotes 100 percent of its resources and funding toward the support of collegiate club volleyball activities. It has been organized informally for nearly two decades.

The NCVF acts as the national governing body for organized collegiate club volleyball competitions. For over two decades, NCVF volunteers have provided a full range of support for student club teams by promoting year-long affordable, organized and competitive volleyball events, and supporting a season-ending national championship tournament.

Now with the partnership with USA Volleyball, the event will see many significant enhancements. NCVF’s partnership with USA Volleyball brings added resources and specific expertise in event management and running large volleyball tournaments on multiple courts for people of all ages and abilities. USA Volleyball will provide site selection, housing and event management for the NCVF National Collegiate Club Championship Tournament.

With the combined strength of NCVF and USA Volleyball, the NCVF is in a position for sustained organizational growth, both in terms of number of teams and the various divisional assignments that encourage and support beginning through advanced-level players at the collegiate level. The partnership will extend beyond co-producing the NCVF Collegiate Volleyball Championship Tournament with planned outreach efforts through USA Volleyball to the college players. USA Volleyball will add resources to assist in officiating, coaching education and support for club programs across the country. NCVF is also planning to debut national club beach volleyball competitions and a national collegiate club beach volleyball championship next year.

Tags: Adult, college, college volleyball, National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF)