Posted: Nov 17, 2022
West Plains, MO – For the first time since 2019, the Indian Hills Volleyball team is set to take part in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Volleyball National Tournament. The Warriors open play Thursday morning at 11:00 as the No. 2 overall seed.
DETAILS: NJCAA DI Volleyball National Tournament
#2 (2) Indian Hills vs. #19 (15) Monroe
Thursday, November 17 | 11:00 AM
West Plains Civic Center | West Plains, MO
WATCH LIVE ($): NJCAA Network
LIVE AUDIO (FREE): GoHillsTV
LIVE STATS: vs. Monroe
The Warriors will be making their fourth-ever national tournament appearance, and first since 2019. Indian Hills (40-2) will enter as the No. 2 nationally ranked team and the No. 2 seeded program in the tournament. The Monroe College (NY) Mustangs (36-6) will be making their eighth all-time appearance at the national tournament and sixth consecutive trip.
HOW WE GOT HERE
In a historic season for the Warriors, Indian Hills has put together one of its strongest campaign in program history. The Warriors recorded just its third 40-win season in program history and are the most during head coach Lyndsey Michel's reign in Ottumwa.
Indian Hills has been ranked in each of the national polls this year and has been ranked No. 2 in the nation for five weeks throughout the year. The Warriors have put together winning streaks of 19 and its current streak of 14 which is the third-longest current streak in the NJCAA.
Monroe, the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District A Champions heads to West Plains with the nation's longest winning streak at 22 matches. The Mustangs swept thorough the District tournament, going 4-0 with four consecutive sweeps to earn the automatic bid to the national tournament.
Monroe has squared off against three nationally ranked opponents this year, going 0-3.
WARRIORS TO WATCH
It's been a record-breaking season for the Warriors as a number of individuals who powered Indian Hills into the national tournament.
- Sophomore setter Hennesys Lalane (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Colegio Luis Munox Rivera) was tapped as the NJCAA Region XI Player of the Year after a breakthrough season. Lalane leads the nation in assists and has been a force on the attacking front while making an impact defensively at the net.
- Jarolin de los Santos (Santo Domingo, Dominican/Luis Munoz Rivera) became the school's all-time blocks leader and is just three blocks away from the single season record this year.
- Sophomore Jenna Vallée (Pornichet, France/Lycee Aristide Briand) has provided the Warriors with veteran leadership throughout the year and was named an All-Region XI pick after a standout year.
MUSTANGS TO WATCH
The Mustangs are tied with Indian Hills for the second-most matches played in the nation with 42 this season. Monroe ranks among the nation's leaders in a number of statistical categories, including the most service aces and the fifth-most kills.
- Sophomore Yaliances Flores ranks ninth in the nation with 443 kills on the year, averaging 3.43 kills per set.
- Francesca Andreon ranks 12th national with 1,110 assists on the year, averaging 8.67 assists per set.
- Three different individuals rank inside the top 14 in the nation in service aces, led by sophomore Laura Paniagua's team-high 70. O:\2022-23\Athletics\gamedayprograms\Basketball
SERIES HISTORY
The two programs have met just twice before with each team picking up a win. The Warriors defeated Monroe on August 27, 2016 in Wisconsin Dells, WI while the Mustangs picked up a 3-0 victory on October 15, 2021 in Council Bluffs, IA.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The winner of Thursday's morning matchup will advance to the quarterfinal round which will be played at 5:30 PM on Thursday night while the loser heads to the consolation bracket at 10:00 AM on Friday morning.
The semifinal round of the winner's bracket will be held at 6:30 PM on Friday night followed by the national title game at 7:30 PM on Saturday night. The championship game will be televised on ESPN+.
GOHILLSTV ON THE CALL
Fans can purchase a subscription to the NJCAA Network for a cost by visiting: NJCAA Network
Looking for GoHillsTV coverage? Russ W. Ocker will be live on site and will provide an audio only broadcast via GoHillsTV Facebook for all Indian Hills matches throughout the tournament.
WHERE TO WATCH LIVE
Indian Hills Community College will host a live watch party in the IHCC Formal Lounge beginning at 11:00 AM. The event is open to the public. Godfrey's Ale House located in Ottumwa will stream all Indian Hills Volleyball matches throughout the duration of the tournament.
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