Bellevue's National Tournament path announced

National Tournament Schedule & Results

National Tournament Visitor and Fan Information

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- On Saturday, the No. 22 Bellevue University volleyball team advanced to the NAIA National Tournament final site for the first time since 2012. Today, the Bruins received their marching orders in the form of their opponents and schedule.

New this year, the tournament field has expanded to 32 teams, up from 24 in previous seasons. The field will be split into eight pools of four teams each with each team playing one match against each of the other three in their pool.

All of the remaining National Tournament matches will be played inside the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

The action begins on Tuesday, Nov. 29 with the first of three days of pool play. The top two teams from each pool will advance to single-elimination bracket play. The round of 16 and quarterfinals will take place on Friday, Dec. 2 with the semi-finals and championship match to be played on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Bellevue (31-10) has been placed in Pool E along with No. 5 Midland (26-3), No. 12 Oklahoma City (30-3), and Mobile (31-8). The Bruins began pool play with an 8 p.m. match on Tuesday, Nov. 29 against Oklahoma City. A day later, BU takes on Midland at 5 p.m. before closing out pool play at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 against Mobile.

BU hasn't faced any of their National Tournament opponents yet this season but have a long history against Midland.

The Bruins and Warriors have met 33 times previously with Midland holding a 28-5 lead in the all-time series. Bellevue, however, has won five of the nine matches between the two sides since the turn of the millennium.

The Bruins and Rams have met just twice before, with Bellevue topping Mobile in both 2007 (3-1) and 2010 (3-0).

Oklahoma City will be a new foe for the volleyball program as the Stars and Bruins have never met on the volleyball court.

This is BU's ninth appearance in the National Tournament and the seventh time they have qualified for the final site. Bellevue also reached the final site in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012.

With their victory over Haskell Indian Nations on Saturday, Bellevue now owns a 10-17 (.370) all-time record in National Tournament play.

The NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast all 63 matches (including 48 pool-play matches) live at the 2016 NAIA Volleyball National Championship final site in Sioux City, Iowa. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while a pool play pass is $24.95, and an all-championship package is available at $43.95.

Pool E Schedule:

Tuesday, Nov. 29

5 p.m. -- Midland vs. Mobile

8 p.m. -- Oklahoma City vs. Bellevue

Wednesday, Nov.  30

5 p.m. -- Midland vs. Bellevue

7 p.m. -- Oklahoma City vs. Mobile

Thursday, Dec. 1

5 p.m. -- Bellevue vs. Mobile

7 p.m. -- Midland vs. Oklahoma City