CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — For the first time ever, the Minnesota West volleyball team will play for a national championship on Saturday. The No. 2 seed Lady Jays (35-4) have run the table through the semifinals of their first-ever NJCAA Division III Volleyball Championship appearance, clinching a berth in the title match with a sweep over the College of DuPage Chaparrals, who won the title in 2022.
ADVERTISEMENT Minnesota West of head coach Brittney McNab got it done by set scores of 25-23, 25-20, 25-15 Friday at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena and overcame deficits in the first two sets to do it. Now comes their toughest test of the tournament in top seed and reigning national champion Dallas College Eastfield. Coming off an undefeated 35-0 season last year, the Harvester Bees have again been dominant in their title defense, going 33-1 en route to their second-straight championship match.
They’ve been the No. 1 team in the nation all year and like the Lady Jays, have not dropped a set in the national tournament. After wins over Harrisburg Area and Owens in the first two rounds, their semifinal win came in a sweep Friday over Century College in a rematch of last year’s championship.
The set scores were 25-14, 25-16, 25-19. Dallas Eastfield leads the nation in kills per set with just under 14 and assists per set at just over 13. Two of the nation’s top 20 leaders in kills are on the team in McKenzie Anderson (313) and Brently Walker (304).
Their setter, Taryn Doiron, also.