November 15, 2007
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
For the first time in the history of Evangel volleyball, the Lady Crusaders are playing in the semifinal round of the NAIA Region V Tournament. On Friday, Nov. 16, No. 6-seed Evangel will play No. 2-seed Lindenwood at 5 p.m. at Columbia (Mo.) College. No.-1 seed Columbia will host No. 4-seed William Jewell at 7 p.m. The winners will then play for the NAIA Region V Tournament championship on Saturday, No. 17.
Evangel (24-12) advanced to the semifinal round with a win in the first round at Missouri Baptist on Nov. 13. The EU women defeated Missouri Baptist in five games (25-30, 30-27, 25-30, 31-29, 15-13). Lindenwood (37-6) is ranked No. 12 in the nation on the final NAIA poll. The Lady Lions won at home versus the University of Illinois at Springfield in the first round of the regional tourney in four games (30-28, 30-32, 30-22, 30-20).
Lindenwood and Evangel met twice during the regular season in 2007 and Lindenwood won both matches. The Lady Lions defeated EU in the preseason Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament on Aug. 25 in four games (30-26, 24-30, 27-30, 16-30). Lindenwood also won a Sept. 11 conference match in St. Charles, Mo., in three games (30-14, 30-24, 30-22). The Lady Lions have an 18-7 series advantage against Evangel and have won the last four matches between the two schools.
In the other first-round games, Columbia (28-6) won on its home floor against Central Methodist in three games (30-18, 30-19, 30-20). Columbia is ranked No. 6 nationally on the final NAIA poll. William Jewell (23-10) moved on to a semifinal match with its three-game home win against Graceland (34-32, 30-16, 30-26) on Nov. 13.
The winner of the NAIA Region V Tournament will receive an automatic berth into the 2007 NAIA National Volleyball Championships on Nov. 28-Dec. 1. In addition to hosting the semifinals of the Region V tourney, Columbia will also be the host of the NAIA national tournament.