NIACC, Iowa Central battle for league title

FORT DODGE - The regular season league title is on the line.

The No. 13 NIACC volleyball team faces No. 8 Iowa Central Wednesday in the Hodges Fieldhouse with the winner claiming the ICCAC regular season title. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.

Both teams enter tonight's match with league marks of 7-1. NIACC (30-8 overall) dropped a 3-2 decision to DMACC on Sept. 4 and Kirkwood topped Iowa Central 3-2 on Oct. 9.

NIACC is seeking its first regular season league title since the 1995 season, which was the last time the Lady Trojans qualified for the national tournament.

The winner of tonight's match earns the No. 1 seed for this weekend's NJCAA Region XI-A tournament and the No. 2 seed hosts the NJCAA Region XI-B tournament on Nov. 2-3.

DMACC (18-16 overall) and Northeast CC (18-16 overall) are tied for third in the league with 6-2 records. Those two teams meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Boone.

Iowa Central is guaranteed at least a two seed as the Tritons own victories over DMACC and Northeast CC. NIACC gains the No. 2 seed with a loss to Iowa Central and a Northeast CC win over DMACC.

At the regional tournaments, the highest seeded champion earns an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division II national tournament Nov. 21-23 in Charleston, W.V.

The lower-seeded champion moves to a district championship match at the NJCAA Region XVI champion on Nov. 9. The winner of the district match qualifies for the national tournament.

NIACC's seeding scenarios

• The Lady Trojans gain the No. 1 seed with a win over Iowa Central.
• The Lady Trojans gain the No. 2 seed with a loss to Iowa Central and a Northeast CC win over DMACC.
• The Lady Trojans gain the No. 3 seed with a loss to Iowa Central and a DMACC win over Northeast CC.

NIACC (30-8)