KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo volleyball team is set to open play in the 2022 NAIA National Championships Saturday with their opening round match in Omaha, Nebraska. The Cougars are set to play at College of Saint Mary in their eighth straight NAIA National Championship appearance.

2022 NAIA National Championship 
Saturday, November 19th • Omaha, Nebraska • Lied Fitness Center 
IU Kokomo @ College of Saint Mary • 8:30 P.M. ET

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IU Kokomo comes into their eighth straight NAIA National Tournament appearance on the backs of a 30-6 record and River States Conference Championship win. The Cougars were 16-2 in conference play, and went 3-0 in the RSC Championship to clinch a NAIA National tournament berth.

The Cougars have been led by a committee of four offensively that includes Sidney Gerig, Lorelei Porter, Audrey Strawsma, and RSC Freshman of the Year Lexi Broyles. Gerig has 301 kills on the year while the other three all have at least 270. 

Defensively, RSC Defender of the Year Alyvia Smith has been IU Kokomo's anchor. Smith has 646 digs so far this season for an average of 5.17 digs per set. Audrey Strawsma leads the team in total blocks with 110, while Lexi Broyles has 107.

College of Saint Mary (Neb.), the #15 team in the NAIA, enters Saturday's NAIA National Tournament Opening Round matchup with a record of 19-8. The Flames compete in the tough Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), a conference that received seven NAIA Tournament bids.

The Flames fell to Concordia University in the opening round of the GPAC Tournament, but received an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament. College of Saint Mary has four athletes with 200+ kills on the year, and had an athlete on both the First Team All-GPAC and Second Team All-GPAC.

Saturday's match will be the first all-time meeting between the two programs.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.