EUGENE, Ore. – The Beacons return to the NAIA National Tournament for the fourth time in the last six seasons, and will be hosting their Opening Round game for the first time on Saturday as they welcome MidAmerica Nazarene University into the Morse Center.
 
First-serve is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
 
Bushnell earned the No. 18 seed for the tournament as is one of seven teams from the Cascade Collegiate Conference to qualify for the 2025 NAIA National Championship tournament, more than any other conference in the NAIA with no other conference earning more than four bids. They are one of four conference schools to host their opening round game, joining No. 1 Eastern Oregon, No. 5 Corban and No. 20 College of Idaho.
 
The winner of Saturday's match will earn a trip to Sioux City, Iowa and will compete in pool play for the NAIA National Tournament which runs from December 3-5 at the Tysen Events Center. Winners of the eight pools advance to the bracket on December 6-9.
 
Saturday marks the first NAIA opening round host duties for any Bushnell program. It will also be the first meeting between the Beacons and the Pioneers.
 
MEET THE BEACONS
 
The Beacons (20-12) took third-place in the toughest conference in the nation, finishing with a 13-7 mark in the CCC. Bushnell earned nine victories this season against teams ranked in the NAIA Top-25 or receiving votes.
 
Bushnell has been battled tested, not just in the gauntlet that is the Cascade Conference, but through a school-record ten five-set matches. They are 4-6 in those matches, but won three of the four CCC tiebreakers on the road.
 
Bushnell is led by four players who were recognized by the Cascade Collegiate Conference this season in First-Team All-CCC Hailey Heider and Leah Agost, Second-Team selection Amyah Semau, and Honorable Mention Soliel Sands.
 
Bushnell ranks third in the conference for offensive efficiency, hitting at a .203 clip and first in the CCC with 2.13 aces per set. The Beacons also lead the CCC in kills (1501), Assists (1400), Service Aces (258), Digs (1660), and Blocks (257).
 
MEET THE PIONEERS
 
MidAmerica Nazarene University (21-8) comes into the national tournament following a third-place finish in the Heart of America Conference, going 14-4 in conference play. They fell to No. 12 Missouri Baptist in the semifinals of the Heart tournament.
 
The Pioneers are making their eighth trip to the NAIA tournament and first since 2022.
 
The Pioneers went 1-5 against NAIA Top-25 teams during the season, with their win coming against then-No. 19 Grand View at home. They were 3-5 against NAIA qualifying teams, and come in with a 6-4 mark over their last ten matches.
 
MNU had seven players recognized on the All-Heart of America Conference teams, led by junior Middle Blocker Mia Olson. Olson is averaging over three points per game, including 2.5 kills while leading the team with 0.93 blocks per set. Sophomore Libero Emily Mathis (5.39 digs per set) was a second-team selection and earned Heart of America Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors.