"NCCAA Nationals"

  For the MVNC women's volleyball team, the quest for the Lady Cougars' first-ever National Christian College Athletic Association national title will have to wait at least one more year.

  In their seventh straight trip to the NCCAA National Volleyball Tournament, fifth-seeded MVNC (33-10) lost in the quarterfinals to third-seeded Grace (IN) College, the defending NCCAA champs, by the scores of 15-10, 9-15, 15-6, 15-11.

  "It was an honor to represent MVNC at the tournament," said Paul Swanson, the Lady Cougars' head coach. "This year's tournament field was loaded with talented teams and it was great to compete with them. This experience will make us better in the long run."

  MVNC opened pool play on Friday against fourth-seeded Lee (TN) College, the host school. The Lady Flames (43-8), ranked 19th in the latest NAIA national poll, won the match 15-9, 15-10 behind a balanced hitting attack led by Danielle Sherman Hyde with 15 kills.

  Tara Seiter led the Lady Cougars with 15 kills and three blocks, while Rachel Widener added 11 kills. Courtny Testa finished with a team-high four blocks, and Tammy Custer contributed two aces and 10 digs. Becky Jefferys recorded 18 assists.

  Top-seeded Bethel (IN) College, ranked tenth in the NAAI, was MVNC's second pool play opponent. The Lady Pilots (39-2) took the match 15-6, 15-5 behind Samantha Poyser's nine kills and Julie Reininga's eight kills, two blocks, six aces, and 14 digs.

  Seiter once again led the Lady Cougars with 11 kills and four blocks. Widener had eight kills, while Custer finished with an ace and nine digs. Testa added three blocks and Mandy Metzger had two aces, while Jefferys notched 15 assists.

  The final pool play match of the day featured MVNC against eighth-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene (KS) College. The Lady Cougars defeated the Lady Pioneers (20-21) by the scores of 15-9 and 16-14. MidAmerica Nazarene was led by Lenka Navritalova with 10 kills, four blocks, and six digs.

  Seiter led MVNC with 14 kills and two blocks, while Widener chipped in with seven kills. Testa added two blocks and Metzger served up two aces. Custer recorded an ace and 11 digs, while Jefferys finished with 19 assists.

  After finishing third in their pool, the Lady Cougars met Grace, the second seed from the other pool, in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Lady Lancers (32-8) won the match in four games behind 33 kills and 10 blocks by Rebecca Wahlstrom, the tournament's outstanding player. Megan Lash added 13 kills and eight blocks, while Melissa Rants had 21 digs and 56 assists.

  Seiter led MVNC with 19 kills and four blocks, while Testa had nine kills and a team-high five blocks. Metzger served up two aces, and Custer added 14 digs. Jefferys contributed 39 assists.

  Grace went on to defeat Western Baptist (OR) College and advance to the finals for the third straight year. In the finals, they lost to Christian Heritage (CA) College, ranked ninth in the NAIA, in four games.

  For her performance in the tournament, Seiter was named to the All-National Tournament team. She was also selected to the NCCAA All-American team, becoming the eighth Lady Cougar to receive the honor.

  In addition, Testa, a senior, was named to the NCCAA Academic All-American team for the second straight year. She has a 3.71 grade point average in her elementary education and specific learning disabilities majors.

  The Lady Cougars will return to action on Tuesday night as they host Malone College in a Mid-Ohio Conference match. The match will be the final 1996 home match for MVNC.