Grizzlies add fifth match at tough NAIA Tournament of Champions

by Chris Day

Second Year Grizzly Coach Lindy Mortensen will lead her team into action at this weekend's NAIA Tournament of Champions in Salt Lake City.

SALT LAKE CITY— The Adams State College volleyball coach Lindy Mortensen announced Monday that her team has added a fifth match to this upcoming weekend’s slate at the NAIA Tournament of Champions, hosted by Westminster (Utah) College. The Grizzlies will face NCAA Division II newcomer Dixie State (Utah) College, Saturday at 6 p.m. in Westminster’s Health & Wellness Activity Center.

Mortensen and Rebel coach Jeff Parker’s squads were placed in opposite pools of the 8-team tournament, which includes six NAIA squads, five of which are nationally ranked. ASC will face the host Griffins and other NAIA powers National American (S.D.), Albertson (Idaho) in the pool portion of the tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The Grizzlies will then match up against one team out of the other pool (Cal Baptist, Dixie State, Great Falls (Mont.), Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)) in a bracket play match at either 1 or 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Cal Baptist has won the last two NAIA National Championships and is ranked No. 1 in this year’s NAIA National Preseason Rating. 2002 National Champion National American is tabbed fourth while Albertson, Olivet Nazarene and Westminster come in 16th, 18th and 25th, respectively.

The Rebels went 17-17 in 2005, their last season at the junior college level.

The Grizzlies, in their second year under Mortensen’s tutelage, will then face four NCAA Division II opponents in the Days Inn-Denver West Oredigger Classic, hosted by fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference institution Colorado Mines on Sept. 1 and 2.

Related Item: Complete 2006 Grizzly Volleyball Schedule
Related Item: 2006 NAIA Volleyball Preseason Ratings