As the defending national champions, the Messiah College Falcons entered the 2009 NCCS National Volleyball Championships in Kansas City, Missouri last week as the #1 ranked team in the Division II field.
The first day of preliminary competition brought tough opponents right off the bat for the Falcons. North Dakota State University was the first match of the day. Feeling the pressure as the top ranked team, the Messiah had a wake up call when they dropped the first set 20-25. The team regrouped and finished off NDSU decisively 25-15, 15-9. Messiah would not falter the rest of the day as they faced Missouri University of Science and Technology and Siena College, winning 25-18, 25-18 and 25-18, 25-20, respectively.
The second day of seeding play determined who would remain in the hunt for the national title. In the three team pool, Messiah would face Yale and Eastern Illinois University. First up was EIU. The Falcons came out in top form and dismantled EIU 25-11 the first set. There was no answer for the Falcon attack and the defense was impenetrable. However, EIU would not go away quietly and pushed Messiah to a third set by winning 25-23 in the second. In a back and forth battle in the third set, there were many extended rallies with great play after great play. The Falcons came out on top winning 15-11. Yale was up next. The Falcons, pumped up after a thrilling win, played another brilliant match against a tough opponent winning 25-21, 26-24.
Being undefeated in seeding play, the Falcons were still atop the field ranked #1 in the single-elimination playoffs with a first round match up with Army from West Point. In any tournament, there are working assignments, and a miscommunication with the tournament director, had the Falcons arriving late to their working assignment prior to their match against Army. This resulted in a forfeit of the first set. Starting off the match already down 0-25, Messiah knew that it was imperative to win the second set to force a third to prevail. Coming out in dominating fashion against a very tough Army team, the Falcons pulled away after being neck and neck the whole set, winning 25-18. Army would not be beaten so easily pushing the Falcons in the third set, but eventually falling to the defending national champions 14-16.
In the quarterfinal match, the Falcons would face a familiar foe, the Ohio Northern University. In an epic battle, which should have been the championship match between two phenomenal teams, Messiah took the first set 25-21. ONU would hang on to take the second set 25-23. In the third set, each incredible hit was answered by an amazing defensively play by both teams. Tied at 14-14, ONU would make two blocks to seal the deal and knock out the Falcons 16-14, giving Messiah a 5th place finish. Ohio Northern would loose in the next round to eventual champions SUNY Cortland. Cortland would then beat Eastern Illinois University in the championship match 27-25, 21-25, 18-16.
A strong showing at this years championships named 5 Falcons on the All Tournament Team selection. Juniors Kyle Keen, Mike Walker, and Corey Wenger were named to the Honorable-Mention list. Junior and 2008 NCCS Division II MVP Ted Simmons was named to the Second Team list. Senior Captain Luke Reichel would make it his second appearance on the First Team list.
The Falcons would thank all of those who supported the team this year!