UPLAND, Ind.-The tradition of Taylor University volleyball just got a little richer.
Taylor punched its ticket for the 2009 NAIA Volleyball National Championships in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) sweep of Indiana University East in the championships' opening round. The NAIA's all-time wins leader is competing in its fifth national tournament, and the first since 2001.
In the first ever meeting between the two teams, Taylor hit at .366 against IU East and improved to 35-5 on the season after winning its fourth consecutive straight-set match.
Making her first appearance in the NAIA Championships as a coach after appearing in two as a player, Taylor head coach Brittany Smith beamed after the match. "I'm so happy this team has the chance to experience all of this. To see the top 24 teams in the NAIA is going to be a great opportunity for them to see what excellence is all about as our program strives to compete at the highest level."
Taylor, ranked No. 16 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, trailed 10-9 in the opening set, but three kills by junior Jackie Geile gave Taylor the lead at 15-11. The Trojans got kills from four different players in the final seven points of the set and went up 1-0 in the match.
The second set was all Taylor with another balanced attack that netted 17 kills for a .341 attack percentage. After a Bethany Beck kill that put the Trojans up 13-6, IU East never drew any closer as Taylor took set two by the final of 25-14.
IU East grabbed a 12-10 lead after a sluggish Taylor start. Two straight errors by the Red Wolves tied the score at 12 all. After trading several points, IU East trailed 20-19 with the serve. Geile took over from there with three kills as Taylor scored the next six points for the 25-19 win and a trip to Sioux City.
"The team came in focused and ready," Smith said after the match. "We've talked all season about finishing well, and they did that today. We had a very balanced attack. From each position on the court, we really executed."
Geile posted a season best 18 kills to lead Taylor. Kelsey Pritchard took over as the NAIA leader in kills this season. The sophomore's 13th kill of the match gave her the nation's best total of 607 this season.
Betsy Brown ran an efficient Taylor offense with 42 assists. Freshman libero Courtney Herschberger had a match-high 15 digs. Bethany Beck led Taylor with four blocks to go along with her nine kills.
Winners of their last ten coming into the match, IU East was led by Brandie Sanders with eight kills and six digs. The Red Wolves finish their season 31-11 after capturing the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships.
After capturing its third straight Mid-Central College Conference championship and the MCC tournament title earlier this season, Taylor adds a national tournament victory to a banner season.
The Trojans will find out by Sunday at 7 p.m. on www.naia.org who their first opponent will be in Sioux City on Dec. 1.
