Judson Favored In CCAC Women's Volleyball Tournament

CHICAGO --- After posting a near-perfect league season, Judson University serves as the team to beat when the 2023 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament begins play at four different sites on Tuesday night.

The only team that appears to stand in the way of the Eagles (21-3, 13-1 CCAC) sweeping both the regular-season and tournament titles is St. Ambrose University, which denied Judson of its undefeated conference season just two weeks ago (Oct. 26).  The No. 2-seeded Fighting Bees (16-14) won that match in five sets, being one of only two teams to play JU to five sets this fall.

The No. 3 through 6 seeds all checked in at 8-6 during the league season, forcing the conference office to have to go to its tiebreaking procedures.  In the end, Trinity Christian College (10-18) came out as the No. 3 seed followed by Olivet Nazarene University (11-14) at No. 4.  Those two teams join Judson and St. Ambrose in hosting first-round matchups on Tuesday.

The rest of the field is made up of No. 5 University of St. Francis (10-19), No. 6 Saint Xavier University (11-14), No. 7 Roosevelt University (11-13) and No. 8 Indiana University South Bend (5-22).

Tuesday's matchups find Indiana South Bend being the first team to try and gain the upset of Judson, while Roosevelt travels to Davenport, Iowa to face St. Ambrose.  Trinity Christian, meanwhile, hosts Saint Xavier with Olivet Nazarene doing the same against St. Francis.

Semifinal-round matchups take place on Thursday at the highest remaining seeds followed by the championship on Saturday.   

 Should Judson also capture the CCAC Tournament, the tournament runner-up will earn the conference's second automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.  The Eagles claimed the first bid by winning the regular season.

For a tournament bracket, go to Bracket.

The complete tournament schedule follows:

Tuesday, November 7 - First Round
• Match #1: No. 8 Indiana South Bend (5-22) at No. 1 Judson (21-3) --- 7 pm CT
• Match #2: No. 5 St. Francis (10-19) at No. 4 Olivet Nazarene (11-14) --- 7 pm CT
• Match #3: No. 7 Roosevelt (11-13) at No. 2 St. Ambrose (16-14) --- 7 pm CT
• Match #4: No. 6 Saint Xavier (11-14) at No. 3 Trinity Christian (10-18) --- 7 pm CT

Thursday, November 9 - Semifinal Round
• Match #5: Winner-Match #1 vs. Winner-Match #2 --- TBA (at site of highest remaining seed)
• Match #6: Winner-Match #3 vs. Winner-Match #4 --- TBA (at site of highest remaining seed)

Saturday, November 11 – Championship
• Match #7: Winner-Match #5 vs. Winner-Match #6 --- TBA (at site of highest remaining seed)