NIACC's Emily Opstvedt prepares to serve in a match against Northeast CC earlier this season.

October 31, 2023

NIACC begins regional play at DMACC

BOONE - The NIACC volleyball team opens NJCAA Region 11 tournament play at No. 11 DMACC on Wednesday.

Match time is slated for 7 p.m.

The Trojans (14-23 overall) enter the regional tournament as the No. 8 seed. DMACC (26-9) is the tournament's No. 1 seed.

DMACC, No. 4 Kirkwood and No. 9 Iowa Central all finished ICCAC play with 10-1 records with the Bears earning the top seed via a tie-breaker. The winner of the eight-team regional tournament receives an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division II national tournament Nov. 15-18 in Cedar Rapids.

There are four at-large bids available to the national tournament. The max any region can get is three teams at the national tournament, including automatic bid.

Sophomore Jaida Hansen leads NIACC with 299 kills. The Trojans' Iwalani Beltran has 572 assists and 70 ace serves, Kennedy Schwiesow has 620 digs and Kit Byars has 132 blocks.

DMACC is led by Zophi Hendricks and Coryl Matheny with 308 kills apiece.

NJCAA Region 11 tournament

Wednesday's quarterfinals (all matches at 7 p.m.)

(8) NIACC at (1) DMACC

(2) Southeastern CC at (2) Kirkwood

(6) Hawkeye CC at (3) Iowa Central

(5) Northeast CC at (4) Ellsworth

Saturday's semifinals at site of highest remaining seed

DMACC/NIACC winner vs. Ellsworth/Northeast CC winner, 1 p.m.

Kirkwood/Southeastern CC winner vs. Iowa Central/Hawkeye CC winner, 3 p.m.