South Padre Island Tournament to be Held at Rivera High School August 22-23
Posted August 14, 2008
The 2008 South Padre Island Volleyball Challenge, one of the best NAIA tournaments in the country, will not be held at South Padre Island this year, thanks to Hurricane Dolly.

Instead, the tournament will be held at the Rivera High School Gymnasium Friday and Saturday, August 22-23.

The tournament was scheduled to be held at the South Padre Island Convention Centre, but Hurricane Dolly caused extensive damage July 23 to the Convention Centre, which is closed until October.

UTB/TSC has negotiated a contract with the Brownsville Independent School District for use of Rivera High for the nine-team tournament. The tournament will be held on two courts at Rivera High.

"We appreciate the assistance of the Brownsville school district to allow us to host the tournament at Rivera," said UTB/TSC Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Hilda Silva. "Luckily, we were able to work everything out to leave the tournament schedule just like it was planned. The administration and coaching staffs at Rivera High School and the BISD were very understanding to our needs because of the hurricane."

Seven of the nine teams participating are coming from the Midwest, and four of the teams were nationally ranked in 2007. The tournament field includes:
  • Great Plains Athletic Conference members Briar Cliff University (Iowa), Doane College (Neb.), Dordt College (Iowa), and Morningside College (Iowa).
  • Malone College (Ohio) of the American Mideast Conference
  • Oklahoma City University of the Sooner Athletic Conference
  • Olivet Nazarene University of the Chicagoland Athletic Conference
  • NAIA Region VI independent Our Lady of the Lake University
  • Host UTB/TSC

Morningside College finished the 2007 season ranked #15 and a 33-4 record, UTB/TSC was #18 with a 36-9 record, Dordt #19 with a 32-9 record, and Olivet Nazarene (23-22) received votes. UTB/TSC and Olivet Nazarene participated in the 2007 national tournament.

Nine matches are scheduled each day on two courts at Rivera. Friday's action begins at 9 a.m. and ends with the last match at 6 p.m., while Saturday's matches begin at 10 a.m. and conclude with the last match at 7 p.m.

Admission will be free.

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