FAYETTE - The Central Methodist Eagles kept their season going with Saturday's 25-16, 25-16, 22-25, 26-28, 15-11 win against Southwestern Assemblies of God University in the Opening Round of the NAIA national championships.
Sophomore libero Krystal Brauner (Helias High School) led the Eagles with 24 digs, adding a pair of service aces.
Sophomore opposite hitter Callie Henson (Helias High School) had a team-high 14 kills to go with six total blocks.
Freshman outside hitter Annabelle Maassen (Jefferson City High School) was second on the team with 15 digs and added seven kills. She served a team-high three aces.
Henson leads Central Methodist with 380 kills, which ranks 46th in the NAIA. Brauner leads the team with 637 digs, which ranks 16th in the NAIA. Maassen has 228 kills and 360 digs, which ranks fourth and second, respectively, for the Eagles.
Central Methodist (29-7), ranked No. 14 in the NAIA, is one of 24 teams to advance to the NAIA national championships, which is scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Eagles are in Pool C with third-ranked Missouri Baptist and 22nd-ranked Dordt (Iowa). The Eagles will play Dordt at 3 p.m. Nov. 30 and Missouri Baptist at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 1. The winner of each of the eight pools will advance to an eight-team, single-elimination bracket.