MESA VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR NJCAA DII NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AS NO. 9 SEED
Tuesday November 18, 2025 - 2:00 p.m. | Dylan DeVlieger
Mesa Community College Volleyball opens play at the 2025 NJCAA Division II Volleyball National Championships on Wednesday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, entering the tournament as the No. 9 seed and set to face No. 8 Gulf Coast State College.
The Thunderbirds arrive at nationals riding the momentum of their second straight NJCAA Region I DII Championship, earned after a five-set victory over No. 3 Scottsdale in a rematch of last year's finals. The win capped a strong postseason push for a group that has balanced experience, talent, and resilience throughout the year.
A major piece of Mesa's national résumé came early in the fall when the T-Birds traveled to Fort Dodge, Iowa to face teams like Neosho County and Iowa Central, both national qualifiers. Head Coach Jordan Herrington said that trip helped elevate Mesa's profile on the national stage.
"I know our region doesn't get a lot of respect because a lot of teams don't see us. I think we were able to sneak in as a number nine seed, because we went out to that tournament. We beat some teams in the lower rankings, and even though we lost a tight one to Iowa Central by two, it gained us a lot of respect. Travel is hard, but it's essential. You play competitive teams, really good volleyball, and you gain respect for your team when it comes to the seeding," said Herrington.
Mesa managed to stay healthy for much of the season unlike last year until the Region I semifinals, when sophomore Aolani Motu suffered an injury. Herrington said managing the roster's overall health has been crucial.
"The biggest key is staying healthy. We lost a really big piece with Lani going out, but staying healthy in most of our matches has been huge because they're so intense and competitive. You don't have the opportunity to rest your starters. Managing their health, staying fresh, and being strategic with practice planning has been important—making sure we're getting better without getting worse from a health standpoint."
Mesa also made program history this season by becoming the first team ever to go undefeated in ACCAC conference play (12–0). ACCAC DII Player of the Year Lindsey Leavitt and two-time Libero of the Year Brianna Anderson led the way, while Marley Avechuco, Isa Folau, Leavitt, and Anderson all earned ACCAC DII Player of the Week honors. Anderson added two NJCAA DII Defensive Player of the Week awards as well.
But MCC's road to nationals wasn't without adversity. During a midseason stretch, Mesa dropped four of six matches all to Division I opponents. It was a challenging period, one Herrington said required adjustments and growth.
"I learned things, and I feel like from a coaching standpoint things haven't been the same. Whether it's personnel, the systems we run, or the offense and defense, it's all because I learned from those matches. Yes, they were lows, but you learn from those situations," said Herrington.
The match begins 12 p.m. MST. If Mesa wins they will face the winner of No. 1 Kirkwood & No. No. 16 Calhoun/No. 17 Monroe.
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