The Navarro Bulldogs are seeded seventh as an at-large entry in the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament and will play another at-large qualifier, the 10th-seeded New Mexico JC Thunderbirds, in first-round play next week at Hutchinson, Ks.

 

Navarro and NMJC will play at 1 pm Wednesday, November 15. The winner advances to face the winner of a 2-15 matchup between Northeastern JC of Sterling, Co., and Mineral Area CC of Park Hills, Mo.

 

Coach Ariel Apolinario's Bulldogs (31-3) and NMJC met August 26 in first-round play at the Odessa Invitational, where Navarro posted its second sweep of the young season, winning 25-20, 28-26, 25-21. NMJC finished third in the Region V Tournament at Weatherford.

 

A combined six teams from Regions XIV and V made the national tournament field, including three of the four at-large qualifiers (Navarro, NMJC and Blinn). Blinn, a third-place finisher from Region XIV this season, is making its fourth consecutive NJCAA Tournament appearance.

 

Navarro received its fourth tournament bid since the 2018 season. The Bulldogs finished eighth after a 38-7 season in 2018 and won the 2019 national championship after a perfect 31-0 season. NC qualified in 2020-21 after a 20-6 season.

 

Here are the seedings and the first-round matchups scheduled at The Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Ks.

 

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NJCAA D-I VOLLEYBALL SEEDINGS

1 Florida SouthWestern State

2 Northeastern

3 Miami Dade

4 Salt Lake CC

5 TVCC

6 Weatherford

7 Navarro *** At-Large

8 Odessa

9 College of Southern Idaho

10 New Mexico JC *** At-Large

11 Blinn *** Ar-Large

12 Daytona State *** At-Large

13 Indian Hills

14 Casper

15 Mineral Area, Mo.

16 Colby, Ks

 

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FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS

1 Florida SouthWestern State v 16 Colby

2 Northeastern JC, Co. v 15 Mineral Area

3 Miami Dade v 14 Casper

4 Salt Lake CC v 13 Indian Hills CC

5 TVCC v 12 Daytona State

6 Weatherford v 11 Blinn

7 Navarro v 10 New Mexico JC

8 Odessa v 9 College of Southern Idaho