Three women’s teams at Westmont College have received at-large invitations to NAIA national competitions.
The cross country, volleyball and soccer teams learned Sunday that they’ll be contending for national honors.
The Warriors will travel this week to Lawrence, Kansas to participate in the cross country championships. They received an at-large bid after finishing third in the GSAC Championships and a No. 17 ranking in the national poll. This marks the 20th time the Warriors have qualified as a team to participate in the national championship race and the 30th time at least one student-athlete has competed.
This year’s 5,000 meter championship race will be held at the Rim Rock Farm outside of Lawrence.
The Warriors are led by freshman Kelly Collins, sophomore Piper Bain, sophomore Jessica Meyers, junior Heidi Nichols and senior Amber Collier.
SOCCER
Westmont (15-1-3) will make its third straight appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. The Warriors, who were ranked fifth in the final NAIA Coaches’ Poll, are expected to host an opening-round home game against an opponent to be named on Monday.
The first-round games will take place on 15 campus sites throughout the country on Saturday, Nov. 23. The winners will advance to the final site at The Orange Beach Sportsplex in Alabama, Dec. 2-7.
Westmont holds an impressive 28-6-6 (.775) record in national tournament play and has won the title five times (1985, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003). Under head coach Kristi Kiely, the Warriors are 1-1-1 in national tournament play.
VOLLEYBALL
The Warriors (21-8) are in the national tournament for the second year in a row. Ranked 14th in the final poll, they will learn whom they will play in Saturday’s opening round game.
