NAIA 2022

[Dakota]

Somehow we’re a little over a month away from first serve and from what these Fall results look like, we won’t be short on top-15 teams. This could be one dandy of a year!

[lineshot2016]

At this point I am pretty far removed from the NAIA scene, who is going to be good this year? I figure Grandview, Park, Benedictine Mesa. Mobap is usually competitive. Is Vanguard good? St. Xavier? Lourdes?

[Dakota]

Grand View lost a lot. Several starters, most importantly Chapman, are gone. Losing Donan will likely hurt that program a good amount. I'd imagine they'll be good but I'd be surprised to see them win that conference. Benedictine Mesa finished Runner-Up last year and return a good core, but I expect Vanguard to be the team to beat. Kyle Anema is the most likely NPOY and they've got some other great options and one of the best setters in the country. Beyond that, Missouri Valley and Park should be good again - Park would be the best bet to challenge Vanguard or Benedictine Mesa. Saint Xavier, Indiana Tech, and Lourdes should all be pretty good again - especially if Lourdes has Lamm back for a Covid season. The Mid-South is anyone's guess. Georgetown and Campbellsville will probably be solid. All that said, NAIA just takes one or two unknown international studs to turn the tide your way so don't be surprised to see someone jump up out of nowhere.

[fandad]

I know it's easy to do considering they chose to sit it out last year, but let's not forget Menlo. They return practically everyone from the team that was at or near the top of the polls in 2020 prior to the season being cut short. That includes Ibrahimovic, who may be the best player in NAIA. They have also added a lot of depth. It should be fun watching them fight it out with Vanguard for the GSAC title. Menlo also has an early tri-match with BenU-Mesa and UC Merced that will tell us a lot.

[beachbum86]

Nov 17, 2021 16:16:58 GMT -5 fandad said:

I know it's easy to do considering they chose to sit it out last year, but let's not forget Menlo. They return practically everyone from the team that was at or near the top of the polls in 2020 prior to the season being cut short. That includes Ibrahimovic, who may be the best player in NAIA. They have also added a lot of depth. It should be fun watching them fight it out with Vanguard for the GSAC title. Menlo also has an early tri-match with BenU-Mesa and UC Merced that will tell us a lot.

Menlo has had a strong preseason so far. They just won Stanford’s tournament pretty easily beating SportConX (VLA) and Stanford. Imo they are early contenders for a championship run. Their setter was also a freshman in 2020 when they were as good as they were. They look better than a lot of D1 teams this fall.

[Dakota]

I did not mean to forget Menlo. They are definitely in that top 3-4 range and HUNGRY.

[WildwoodVB]

I’m hearing The Masters may have a drastic upturn in their level of play. I’m also curious if we’ll see any shifts in the Chicagoland or if it will remain St Xavier and the Pips.

[midwestbeachbum]

If Menlo is doing so well now, hopefully they get the chance to showcase that with a match or two against the MSPF/Big West this season

[formeruscgoalie]

Nov 28, 2021 20:55:28 GMT -5 midwestbeachbum said:

If Menlo is doing so well now, hopefully they get the chance to showcase that with a match or two against the MSPF/Big West this season

Menlo plays at Stanford on February 11 and at USC on March 18, so that will give them a couple of showcase matches!

[Deleted]

The NAIA is going to be pretty wide open this year, and I don't think we have a clear favorite, like we have had the last couple of years with Grand View. I’ll take a stab at each conference though, and how I think they end up. Like last year, you have eight automatic bids, and only four at-large bids for the 12 team tournament.

My top 10:
1. Park
2. BenU
3. Menlo
4. Vanguard
5. Lourdes
6. Grand View
7. Jamestown
8. Campbellsville
9. Indiana Tech
10. St. Xavier

California Pacific Conference
It is BenU and then the rest. UC Merced could be decent, but I don’t think they are in the same class as BenU, who return a good group from their national runner-up from last year. Everyone is basically returning, except Henige, who was a big part of that team, but I think they still come out as a favorite to win it all.

Benedictine - Mesa
UC Merced
Park - Gilbert
Westcliff
Saint Katherine
Simpson
Pacific Union

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Similar to the Cal Pac, it is St. Xavier, and then the rest of the field. They were the class of the conference last season, and should be the same this year. I think both Ooms brothers return, but they need to replace AA setter, Kummer.

St. Xavier
Trinity Christian
Cardinal Stritch
St. Ambrose
Olivet Nazarene
Judson
Viterbo
Lincoln
Roosevelt
Calumet St. Joseph

Golden State Athletic Conference
This conference is on par with the Heart as the best in the country top to bottom. Vanguard was good last year, but Menlo would have been better, had they played. I think they are better this year as well, even with Vanguard returning their whole team. Anema at Vanguard and Ibrahimovic for Menlo will contend for national player of the year honors. Don’t sleep on Ottawa though, as they should have made the tournament last season, and they have some talent coming in. Master’s also will be much improved, as Diego Perez (Pepperdine xfer) will be the best passing/defensive OH in the country.

Menlo
Vanguard
Ottawa
The Master's
Hope International
Arizona Christian

Great Plains Athletic Conference
Jamestown will not feel any pain with Salmon leaving, as everyone returns for them, and they were pretty strong last year. They are national contenders for me. Ottawa is the only team I could see maybe taking a set from Jamestown.

Jamestown
Ottawa
Dordt
Morningside
Kansas Wesleyan
Central Christian

Heart of America Athletic Conference
The heart is loaded again, and I think it is Park who are the favorites. They return pretty much everyone from a VERY good team last year. Grand View has a ton of talent returning, but losing Felix and Donan hurts them a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop a random match to Mo Bap, Mo Val, and even Mount Mercy. I am very interested to see who is on the Mo Val roster, and that could change my opinion on them. They have a ton of turnover each year, so it could be a brand new team.

Park
Grand View
Missouri Baptist
Missouri Valley
Mount Mercy
Graceland
William Penn
Culver-Stockton
Clarke
Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Mid-South Conference
I cannot stand the fact that this conference gets two automatic bids, because it takes away from a team that will always be better than their number two team (personal opinion). I think Campbellsville is the team to beat, and Georgetown could give them a run at it. Outside of that, you may see an upset from Warner/Life/Webber, but they won’t be consistent enough to compete for the top spot.

Campbellsville
Georgetown
Warner
Life
Webber International
Cumberland
Reinhardt
Midway
St. Andrews
Thomas More
Bluefield
Truett McConnell
Rio Grande

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Outside of Lourdes and Indiana Tech, I don’t think anyone is going to be great. Lourdes is going to be very very good. They return Jeff Lam, probably the best server in the country, and then they add Warner’s best player, Ayala, as a solid OH2. I think they are a top 5 team if they can stay healthy, because they have no depth. Indiana Tech was good last year, and they will be good again. Not a national title contender, but probably will make the tournament again. Aquinas adds Boothroyd back to the team, but they were so inconsistent last year, but we will see who shows up for them.

Lourdes
Indiana Tech
Aquinas
Goshen
Siena Heights
Mount Vernon Nazarene
Cornerstone
Lawrence Tech

[WildwoodVB]

Nov 30, 2021 20:09:38 GMT -5 @pundit said:

The NAIA is going to be pretty wide open this year, and I don't think we have a clear favorite, like we have had the last couple of years with Grand View. I’ll take a stab at each conference though, and how I think they end up. Like last year, you have eight automatic bids, and only four at-large bids for the 12 team tournament.

My top 10:
1. Park
2. BenU
3. Menlo
4. Vanguard
5. Lourdes
6. Grand View
7. Jamestown
8. Campbellsville
9. Indiana Tech
10. St. Xavier

California Pacific Conference
It is BenU and then the rest. UC Merced could be decent, but I don’t think they are in the same class as BenU, who return a good group from their national runner-up from last year. Everyone is basically returning, except Henige, who was a big part of that team, but I think they still come out as a favorite to win it all.

Benedictine - Mesa
UC Merced
Park - Gilbert
Westcliff
Saint Katherine
Simpson
Pacific Union

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Similar to the Cal Pac, it is St. Xavier, and then the rest of the field. They were the class of the conference last season, and should be the same this year. I think both Ooms brothers return, but they need to replace AA setter, Kummer.

St. Xavier
Trinity Christian
Cardinal Stritch
St. Ambrose
Olivet Nazarene
Judson
Viterbo
Lincoln
Roosevelt
Calumet St. Joseph

Golden State Athletic Conference
This conference is on par with the Heart as the best in the country top to bottom. Vanguard was good last year, but Menlo would have been better, had they played. I think they are better this year as well, even with Vanguard returning their whole team. Anema at Vanguard and Ibrahimovic for Menlo will contend for national player of the year honors. Don’t sleep on Ottawa though, as they should have made the tournament last season, and they have some talent coming in. Master’s also will be much improved, as Diego Perez (Pepperdine xfer) will be the best passing/defensive OH in the country.

Menlo
Vanguard
Ottawa
The Master's
Hope International
Arizona Christian

Great Plains Athletic Conference
Jamestown will not feel any pain with Salmon leaving, as everyone returns for them, and they were pretty strong last year. They are national contenders for me. Ottawa is the only team I could see maybe taking a set from Jamestown.

Jamestown
Ottawa
Dordt
Morningside
Kansas Wesleyan
Central Christian

Heart of America Athletic Conference
The heart is loaded again, and I think it is Park who are the favorites. They return pretty much everyone from a VERY good team last year. Grand View has a ton of talent returning, but losing Felix and Donan hurts them a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them drop a random match to Mo Bap, Mo Val, and even Mount Mercy. I am very interested to see who is on the Mo Val roster, and that could change my opinion on them. They have a ton of turnover each year, so it could be a brand new team.

Park
Grand View
Missouri Baptist
Missouri Valley
Mount Mercy
Graceland
William Penn
Culver-Stockton
Clarke
Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Mid-South Conference
I cannot stand the fact that this conference gets two automatic bids, because it takes away from a team that will always be better than their number two team (personal opinion). I think Campbellsville is the team to beat, and Georgetown could give them a run at it. Outside of that, you may see an upset from Warner/Life/Webber, but they won’t be consistent enough to compete for the top spot.

Campbellsville
Georgetown
Warner
Life
Webber International
Cumberland
Reinhardt
Midway
St. Andrews
Thomas More
Bluefield
Truett McConnell
Rio Grande

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
Outside of Lourdes and Indiana Tech, I don’t think anyone is going to be great. Lourdes is going to be very very good. They return Jeff Lam, probably the best server in the country, and then they add Warner’s best player, Ayala, as a solid OH2. I think they are a top 5 team if they can stay healthy, because they have no depth. Indiana Tech was good last year, and they will be good again. Not a national title contender, but probably will make the tournament again. Aquinas adds Boothroyd back to the team, but they were so inconsistent last year, but we will see who shows up for them.

Lourdes
Indiana Tech
Aquinas
Goshen
Siena Heights
Mount Vernon Nazarene
Cornerstone
Lawrence Tech

Awesome breakdown. I agree that there isn't a single favorite this season, which should make this fun. Park will be really good but so will Menlo, BenMesa, and Vanguard. I think that's the top tier. I see the merit for Lourdes there but depth worries me. Ten players on roster doesn't leave room for any misfortune, especially in the Lib, S, and OH positions (important ones).

Beyond those 4/5, I think there are lot more teams worthy of the 6-15 range than we had last season. I think Grand View will still be strong. Jamestown is an unknown with the coaching and style change but they may be able to stay strong another year or two. It looks like Saint Xavier has both Ooms brothers back which makes them dangerous. Georgetown was bettr than I thought last year at the tournament and that was without their AA setter. I wouldn't be surprised to see GTown take Campbellsville's hold on the MidSouth (not that it matters, they do get 2 bids). I don't know a ton about the WHAC, but it appears Indiana Tech brings everyone back from last year which should put them in that 5-8 range, Aquinas bringing Boothroyd back alongside Armadano should help, Siena Heights adding Matos from Campbellsville (alongside the libero, another Campbellsville xfer) makes them intriguing. The only thing I'd change about the breakdown above, besides maybe moving Campbellsville down, is William Penn. The Lewis xfer, Krause will add a lot to what was already a good couple players - I wouldn't be surprised to see WPU climb up the Heart, somewhere around Missouri Valley.

[nslot]

Nov 30, 2021 20:09:38 GMT -5 @pundit said:

Mid-South Conference
I cannot stand the fact that this conference gets two automatic bids, because it takes away from a team that will always be better than their number two team (personal opinion). I think Campbellsville is the team to beat, and Georgetown could give them a run at it. Outside of that, you may see an upset from Warner/Life/Webber, but they won’t be consistent enough to compete for the top spot.

Campbellsville
Georgetown
Warner
Life
Webber International
Cumberland
Reinhardt
Midway
St. Andrews
Thomas More
Bluefield
Truett McConnell
Rio Grande

Well 2023  they won't but instead there will be a Appalachian  Athletic Conference represented the southern school have already public said they are splitting meaning the conferences will look as followed 

AAC 
Warner 
Life
Webber
Reinhardt 
St Andrews 
Truett 
Bluefield 

Mid South 
Georgetown
Campbellsville
Cumberlands 
Midway 
Rio Grande 



Thomas More Plans to Go D2 and I think the Mid south will add St. Mary of the Woods to get to 6 


 

[WildwoodVB]

Dec 3, 2021 16:15:15 GMT -5 nslot said:

Nov 30, 2021 20:09:38 GMT -5 @pundit said:

Mid-South Conference
I cannot stand the fact that this conference gets two automatic bids, because it takes away from a team that will always be better than their number two team (personal opinion). I think Campbellsville is the team to beat, and Georgetown could give them a run at it. Outside of that, you may see an upset from Warner/Life/Webber, but they won’t be consistent enough to compete for the top spot.

Campbellsville
Georgetown
Warner
Life
Webber International
Cumberland
Reinhardt
Midway
St. Andrews
Thomas More
Bluefield
Truett McConnell
Rio Grande

Well 2023  they won't but instead there will be a Appalachian  Athletic Conference represented the southern school have already public said they are splitting meaning the conferences will look as followed 

AAC 
Warner 
Life
Webber
Reinhardt 
St Andrews 
Truett 
Bluefield 

Mid South 
Georgetown
Campbellsville
Cumberlands 
Midway 
Rio Grande 



Thomas More Plans to Go D2 and I think the Mid south will add St. Mary of the Woods to get to 6 


 

I’ve been told Saint Mary’s of the Woods will be joining the WHAC.

[floridasun]

Dec 5, 2021 16:31:02 GMT -5 WildwoodVB said:

Dec 3, 2021 16:15:15 GMT -5 nslot said:

Well 2023  they won't but instead there will be a Appalachian  Athletic Conference represented the southern school have already public said they are splitting meaning the conferences will look as followed 

AAC 
Warner 
Life
Webber
Reinhardt 
St Andrews 
Truett 
Bluefield 

Mid South 
Georgetown
Campbellsville
Cumberlands 
Midway 
Rio Grande 



Thomas More Plans to Go D2 and I think the Mid south will add St. Mary of the Woods to get to 6 


 

I’ve been told Saint Mary’s of the Woods will be joining the WHAC.

Yes in recruiting stuff they have sent out to boys players at the club level that is what they have, WHAC

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2021 10:58:25 GMT -5 WildwoodVB said:

Nov 30, 2021 20:09:38 GMT -5 @pundit said:

Awesome breakdown. I agree that there isn't a single favorite this season, which should make this fun. Park will be really good but so will Menlo, BenMesa, and Vanguard. I think that's the top tier. I see the merit for Lourdes there but depth worries me. Ten players on roster doesn't leave room for any misfortune, especially in the Lib, S, and OH positions (important ones).

Beyond those 4/5, I think there are lot more teams worthy of the 6-15 range than we had last season. I think Grand View will still be strong. Jamestown is an unknown with the coaching and style change but they may be able to stay strong another year or two. It looks like Saint Xavier has both Ooms brothers back which makes them dangerous. Georgetown was bettr than I thought last year at the tournament and that was without their AA setter. I wouldn't be surprised to see GTown take Campbellsville's hold on the MidSouth (not that it matters, they do get 2 bids). I don't know a ton about the WHAC, but it appears Indiana Tech brings everyone back from last year which should put them in that 5-8 range, Aquinas bringing Boothroyd back alongside Armadano should help, Siena Heights adding Matos from Campbellsville (alongside the libero, another Campbellsville xfer) makes them intriguing. The only thing I'd change about the breakdown above, besides maybe moving Campbellsville down, is William Penn. The Lewis xfer, Krause will add a lot to what was already a good couple players - I wouldn't be surprised to see WPU climb up the Heart, somewhere around Missouri Valley.

I agree with alot of what you said, and taking a look at Georgetown's roster again, I could see them upsetting Campbellsville potentially. They have a few interesting names of international kids, including a 24 year old Columbian, so who knows what that looks like. I still think Campbellsville's experience puts them over the top in that conference. Siena Heights may get a little better, but Matos is not a game changer in my mind, he is an upgrade for sure, but it doesn't change the tides enough to knock off Lourdes or Indiana Tech, even Aquinas.

Saint Xavier plays Vanguard and Hope International in California in the first matches of the season on January 8, so we will see pretty quickly how they look.