In the tournament opener, MVNU (23-1), which is ranked 23rd in the latest NAIA poll, cruised to a 30-11, 30-15, 30-19 victory over Trinity Christian (Ill.) College (10-14). Senior middle hitter Shena Beheler led the Lady Cougars with 15 kills and three blocks, while sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Zollars (left) pounded a career-high 12 kills. Freshman middle hitter Jackie Albrecht added 10 kills, and sophomore setter Kaylin Austen handed out 42 assists. Senior libero Tiffany Milburn served up a team-high three aces to go with 12 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Courtney Springer and junior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham each had two aces with Springer also registering five kills.

In its second and final match of the night, MVNU returned to action to face Taylor (Ind.) University (24-5), which was fresh off an upset of 25th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University on Wednesday night. However, the Lady Cougars stayed hot and swept the visiting Lady Trojans 30-21, 30-19, 30-20.

Beheler slammed 25 kills in the victory over Taylor to go with 12 digs and five blocks. Austen handed out 53 assists with 11 digs and a career-high five aces, and Albrecht smashed 14 kills to go with 11 digs and two aces. Milburn posted 20 digs, while Springer finished with nine kills, nine digs, and three blocks. Zollars also contributed seven kills.

“The team really played well tonight,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. “We did a good job of executing in the back row, and we really attacked the ball well at the net. This was a great way to start the tournament.”

In other action on Friday, 17th-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) University swept Trinity Christian 30-21, 30-20, 30-26 and West Virginia Tech 30-14, 30-19, 30-11 to join the Lady Cougars with a 2-0 mark in the tournament. Prior to playing MVNU, Taylor swept West Virginia Tech 30-10, 30-10, 30-11 to post a 1-1 mark in the first day of the two-day event.

On Saturday, the Lady Cougars will square off with Campbellsville (21-1) at 10:00 a.m. At noon, MVNU will take on West Virginia Tech and Taylor will face Trinity Christian. Then, the tournament will wrap up at 2:00 p.m. with Campbellsville versus Taylor and Trinity Christian squaring off with West Virginia Tech.