Dec. 2, 2009

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Defending national champion Fresno Pacific (Calif.) and 12th-seeded Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) were victorious in Pool A Wednesday in the second day of pool play action at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Presented by Siouxland Sports Medicine Foundation in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena.

Fresno Pacific is now 2-0 in Pool A, followed by Olivet Nazarene and Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) at 1-1 and St. Ambrose (Iowa) is 0-2.

Top-seeded Fresno Pacific faced a familiar opponent in fellow Golden State Athletic Conference foe Point Loma Nazarene and like the two previous meetings during the season, the Sunbirds rolled, winning the match in straight sets, 25-22, 25-12, 25-21. Martina Gregusova led the offensive attack with 13 kills, followed by Michelle Johnson with 11 kills. As a team, Fresno Pacific hit at a clip of .291. Emily Carroll's 24 assists were a match high. Fending off the Sea Lions were Mariah Mandelbaum with 17 digs, Tiffany Marinos with 15 and Gregusova with 14. Tabitha Henken's 13 kills led Point Loma Nazarene and Kylie Morel dished out 20 assists.

Olivet Nazarene toppled St. Ambrose in four sets, 25-17, 14-25, 25-23, 25-16. Stephanie Smith finished with a double-double for the Tigers, posting 13 kills and 15 digs and Sara Byrne had a 12-kill performance. Conducting the offense was Erin Sikora, who dished out 41 of Olivet Nazarene's 44 assists. Deeann Garvin led the Tiger defense with 29 digs. Amy Royer had 10 kills in the loss for the Queen Bees.

Thursday's schedule in Pool A will feature St. Ambrose taking on Point Loma Nazarene at 1 p.m., with Fresno Pacific and Olivet Nazarene to follow at 3:15 p.m.