GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The road to Iowa will start on the Panthers' home court as they host their first ever NAIA Opening Round contest on Saturday. Davenport (34-7) will face off against the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene (17-25) at 7:30 p.m. in the DU Student Center with the winner advancing to the NAIA National Championship final site, presented by J&L Enterprises, in Sioux City, Iowa, starting Dec. 2.
 
NAIA Opening Round
vs Olivet Nazarene
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014
Opening Serve: 7:30 p.m. EST
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (DU Student Center)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio/Stats
 
NAIA Opening Round History
Davenport will be making its second appearance and first as a host in the NAIA Opening Round. The Panthers earned an automatic berth to the NAIA Opening Round by winning their first ever WHAC regular season and tournament championships. DU last appeared in the Opening Round in 2012 when they traveled to Wisconsin to face Viterbo University and fell to the Hawks in straight sets, 3-0. 
 
NAIA National Championship
There will be 24 teams playing in 12 Opening Round matches at various campus locations on Nov. 22. The 11 top seeds and host Briar Cliff (Iowa) receive a bye and advance to play at the NAIA National Championship final site, presented by J&L Enterprises, in Sioux City, Iowa, starting Dec. 2.
 
History vs Olivet Nazarene
The Opening Round contest will not be the first meeting between the two programs at the DU Student Center this season. The Panthers defeated the Tigers 3-1 (18-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-20) back on October 11 in the Panther Invitational. Both teams have squared off a total of five times previously with DU leading the all-time series 3-2 while winning the last three match-ups.
 
Scouting Olivet Nazarene
Olivet Nazarene, making their tenth appearance in the national tournament, won an automatic bid when they advanced to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship match last Saturday. The Tigers finished in sixth place in the CCAC with a record of 12-6 and have won nine of their last eleven matches. The Tigers are led by 1^st Team All-CCAC member Becky DeRuiter and 2^nd Team All-CCAC members Haley Hatalla, Heidi Schoenbein and Katie Tabisz.
 
National Statistical Rankings
Two Panthers rank inside the Top-20 in individual rankings. Amber Getty is No. 3 in Assists/Game (11.2) and  in Total Assists (1599) while Hannah Stone sits at No. 11 in total blocks (151) and No. 17 in total kills (456). DU has four national statistical rankings as a team in the top ten ranking No. 5 in Total Assists (1847) and No. 6 in Assists per Game (12.92).They sit at No. 6 in Total Kills (1960) and No. 9 in Kills per Game (13.71).
 
Volleyball Contact: McCall Salmon | 616-554-5045 | msalmon@davenport.edu
DU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
Volleyball: Facebook