MVNU (32-2), which received votes in the latest NAIA poll, had to rally in the first match of the day as the Lady Cougars outlasted Malone University (24-5) in five sets as they prevailed 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7. Senior middle hitter Jackie Albrecht led the way with 13 kills and four blocks, while freshman outside hitter Kendra Votaw pounded 12 kills. Senior middle hitter Sarah Yutzy and sophomore outside hitter Haley Nofziger each smashed nine kills with Yutzy posting a team-high seven blocks. Sophomore setter Lauren Percival handed out 48 assists to go with 18 digs, and senior libero Caitlin Myles led the team with 19 digs.

With the victory, that set the stage for MVNU to wrap up the NCCAA East Region title with only Geneva standing in the way. The Lady Cougars swept the Golden Tornadoes (21-4) by the scores of 25-20, 25-23, 25-20. Albrecht led the way with 12 kills and two blocks, while Votaw and Nofziger pounded seven and six kills each with Votaw also adding two blocks. Percival handed out 30 assists to go with 17 digs, and sophomore right-side hitter Kaylee Hewitt (14), freshman outside hitter Courtney Briegel (12), and Myles (10) also each reached double figures in digs.

"This was a great weekend for us,” said MVNU coach Paul Swanson of his team that has now qualified for the NCCAA National Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla. on December 2-4. "Both Malone and Geneva are very good teams and we just found a way to win. I am very proud of the effort that everyone put forth to get the job done.”

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU will travel to Cedarville University for an important American Mideast Conference match that will start at 7 p.m.