From September 9th to November 25th your 2025 NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Champion Thunder Volleyball team were ranked #1 in every coaches poll that was posted. Of the six polls that came out this season, the Thunder volleyball team was unanimously ranked #1 in five of them. The Thunder would finish their season 32-1, with two of the wins being forfeits, tying the highest win total in program history, which happened back in 2013 when they finished the season 32-7. In the final postseason poll of the season, the Thunder are one of five teams from the Midwest Christian College Conference, and one of three teams from the NCCAA Central Region who are ranked in the final poll of the 2025 season. For the full top-10 rankings for DII Women's Volleyball, click this link.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

The National Champion Thunder Volleyball team not only left Joplin with a national title, but three student-athletes were honored on the NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Tournament All-Tournament team. The Most Outstanding Player of the tournament was senior, libero, Abby Blake. Blake was the anchor of the Thunder's defense all season and it was much of the same at the National Tournament. Blake would total 71 digs on the weekend, while having double digit digs totals in all but one match. She would also only make four receiving errors on the weekend, and add in nine assists to help the offense. Blake would save her best defensive match for last as she would have 17 digs and no errors to clinch the program's first ever NCCAA National Championship. Senior, outside hitter, Liv Lubbers would make the All-Tournament team for the third time in her career. Lubbers recorded two double-doubles on the weekend and would total 46 kills and 55 digs. She would also have nine aces and four total blocks (one solo, three assist) on the weekend from her full rotation position. Finally, senior, middle hitter, Hannah Beukelman would be the final representative on the All-Tournament team for the Thunder. Beukelman would have 39 kills on the weekend, to go along with 14 total blocks (one solo, 13 assist). She would also save her best match for last as she would have a team-leading 11 kills, while hitting 0.400, and four block assists. To see the full list of the 2025 NCCAA Division II Volleyball All-Tournament team, click this link.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

In the 38 years of Manhattan Christian College's volleyball program's existence and 30 seasons of being in the National Christian College Athletic Association, the Thunder volleyball program has captured it's first NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship in program history! In Head Coach Lauren Sanders's tenure of 21 seasons at the helm of the Thunder, her team finally prevails and is at the top of the NCCAA Division II volleyball world. Her team would be ranked #1 in every NCCAA Coaches Poll this season, win a seventh straight Midwest Christian College Conference Championship, win a fourth straight Region Championship, and get to the pinnacle of being a National Champion. In 2023, Sanders would make it to her first National Championship match, but would fall to Bob Jones University. On Saturday, that script would change as the Thunder would sweep the Bruins to win their first ever NCCAA National Championship. Some notables from the match were seniors, Hannah Beukelman and Liv Lubbers who had 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Lubbers would also have 14 digs to notch another double-double. Beukelman would also have four block assists for the Thunder. Senior, libero, Abby Blake, who would earn Most Outstanding Player of the National Tournament, had 17 digs on the afternoon to lead the stellar Thunder defense. This will be the second National Championship title for the Manhattan Christian College volleyball program as they won a National Bible College Athletic Association National Championship in 1993 under Wendy Cott. The Thunder complete their season with a 32-1 record, 10-0 MCCC record, 10-0 NCCAA Central Region record, and currently have a 20-match win streak headed into 2026. They also went 13-1 at the Howie's Activity Center, 12-0 away from home, and 7-0 at neutral sites. The senior class of Lubbers, Hali Clark, and Beukelman finish as the all-time winningest class in Thunder Volleyball program history with a 116-16 final record. Manhattan Christian College Athletics has now won 10 National Championships with seven being during our time in the NCCAA.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

The #1 ranked and #1 seeded Thunder volleyball team advanced to their fifth straight Final Four on Thursday to only have to wait until this morning who their opponent was. After two tiebreaker sets, the Thunder would face the defending National Champions, Arlington Baptist University for a chance to play for a National Championship on Saturday. Ironically, this happened in last year's National Tournament as Arlington Baptist won a tiebreaker set to advance to the Final Four to play the Thunder. This season was a little bit different as the Thunder would sweep the defending champions (25-12, 25-19, 25-17) to advance to the National Championship match on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore, outside hitter, Ellie Wilson would collect another double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs, while Ellie Suber had one of her own with 36 assists and 11 digs. Seniors, Liv Lubbers and Hali Clark would also have great games offensively with 12 and eight kills, respectively. Senior, libero, Abby Blake would lead the defense with 15 digs on the afternoon. The Thunder are now 31-1 headed into their final match of the season.

The Thunder will play for the NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship tomorrow at 1:00PM against the #4 seeded Bob Jones University Bruins.

To watch the National Championship match, the link is on the volleyball schedule page or you can visit the championships tab at thenccaa.org.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

The #1 ranked and #1 seeded Thunder volleyball team competed in their first matches of the NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Tournament on Wednesday as they would play Ozark Christian College and Faith Baptist Bible College. The Ambassadors are the #8 seed in the tournament and the tournament host. The Thunder would sweep the Ambassadors in their first match of the tournament (25-8, 25-14, 25-14). Senior, middle hitter, Jacey Schurle would lead the Thunder with 12 kills and a 0.526 attack percentage, while sophomore, outside hitter, Ellie Wilson would have nine kills. Seniors, Hannah Beukelman and Hali Clark would each have six on an error free hitting afternoon. Jaiden Brewer and Siena Alexander would each have five service aces to contribute to the scoring. On Wednesday evening, the Thunder would battle with the #5 seed Eagles of Faith Baptist Bible College. This match would go much of the same as the Thunder would sweep the Eagles (25-21, 25-17, 25-18) for their 19th sweep of the season. Wilson would have a double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs, while Beukelman would have nine kills. Sophomore, setter, Ellie Suber would total 68 assists in the two matches.

On Thursday afternoon, the Thunder would face off with Bob Jones University. The Thunder would win the first two sets before the Bruins would take the third in a tight set. A dominate effort in the fourth set by the Thunder would close out the match (27-25, 25-14, 25-27, 25-19) to advance the Final Four. Schurle and Wilson would each have 16 kills, while Wilson would have another double-double with 16 digs to go along with her strong night on offense. Senior, outside hitter, Liv Lubbers would also notch a double-double with 13 kills and 16 digs. Suber also had a double-double with 51 assists and 12 digs. The Thunder's defense would also have 18 total blocks (two solo, 16 assists) on the night. With the three victories, the Thunder now have 30 wins on the season and clinch a spot in the Final Four for the fifth straight year.

The Thunder will now await their semifinal opponent as their will be tie-breaker sets played tomorrow morning at 9:30AM and 10:45AM. The Thunder will play at 3:00PM on Friday, November 21st against a to be determined opponent.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

The Thunder volleyball team traveled to Joplin, Missouri earlier this week for the 2025 NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Tournament. Before the the tournament starts, awards such as, All-Americans and NCCAA Scholar-Athletes, are announced and the Thunder had four selections to the All-American teams including their head coach, Lauren Sanders who was named National Coach of the Year, along with five Scholar-Athletes. Senior, outside hitter, Liv Lubbers would earn National Player of the Year and First Team honors. This was her first time winning Player of the Year, but her third year in a row being named to the first team. Senior, middle hitter, Jacey Schurle would be named to the First Team for the second straight season. Sophomore, setter, Ellie Suber would also be named a First Team All-American for the Thunder. To earn scholar-athlete honors you must be a junior, senior or graduate student, complete at least one term, and have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.40 on a 4.00 scale at the nominating institution. Lubbers and Schurle would also be named Scholar-Athletes, while Hannah Beukelman and Hali Clark earned the honor for the second straight season. Abby Blake was also named a Scholar-Athlete for the Thunder.

To stay up-to-date with the NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Tournament, visit thenccaa.org's tournament page.

The Thunder will open National Tournament pool play today at 1:30PM when they play the host and the #8 seed, Ozark Christian College, and again at 5:30PM against the #5 seed, Faith Baptist Bible College.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

After winning the NCCAA Central Region Tournament, the Thunder volleyball team will head to the National Tournament in Joplin, Missouri as the #1 seed in the eight-team tournament. The Thunder have secured the #1 seed after being ranked #1 in all five regular seasons polls and having the best power rating of all Division II volleyball team. The Thunder will be in Pool A with the #4 seed Bob Jones University, #5 seed Faith Baptist Bible College and the #8 seed and host Ozark Christian College. On Wednesday, November 19th, the Thunder will open up the tournament with the very familiar Ozark Christian Ambassadors at 1:30PM. The Thunder have played the Ambassadors twice this season with victories in both matches. Later that evening, the Thunder will battle with the Faith Baptist Eagles at 5:30PM. Again, a very familiar opponent as the Thunder and Eagles have met twice as well with wins in favor of the Thunder. The Thunder will finish off pool play on Thursday, November 20th when the play the Bob Jones Bruins at 1:30PM. The winner and runner-up of each pool with advance to the semifinal matches on Friday, November 21st with the winners advancing to the championship on Saturday, November 22nd.

For more information on the NCCAA National Tournament, visit thenccaa.org.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

The #1 ranked Thunder volleyball team is coming off their fourth straight NCCAA Region Tournament Championship over the weekend. This is their third consecutive Central Region Tournament Title. At the tournament, the All-Region teams were announced and the Thunder had eight selections to the all-region teams including their head coach, Lauren Sanders who was named Region Coach of the Year. Senior, outside hitter, Liv Lubbers would earn Region MVP and First Team honors for the third year in a row. She was also named MVP as a sophomore in 2023. Senior, middle hitter, Jacey Schurle would be named to the First Team for the second straight season. Schurle was the Region MVP last season as a junior. Senior, libero, Abby Blake, would also be named to the First Team for the season season in a row. Sophomore, outside hitter, Ellie Willson, made the jump to First Team All-Region after being a Second Teamer last season. The final member that made the First Team was sophomore, setter, Ellie Suber. Second teamers were seniors, Hannah Beukelman and Hali Clark. Beukelman is a three-time All-Region Second Team honoree, while Clark was a First Team All-Region performer as a sophomore.

The Thunder are awaiting their seed for the NCCAA National Tournament that will be held from Wednesday, November 19th-Saturday, November 22nd at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.

The #1 ranked Thunder volleyball team had the opportunity from the comforts of their own gym to win a fourth straight region title. Dating back to the 2022 season, the Thunder won the NCCAA Southwest Region Title before winning back-to-back Central Region Titles. In 2025, it would be much of the same as the Thunder would win their fourth straight region championship to clinch an automatic bid to the NCCAA National Tournament. The Thunder would earn a bye as the one seed and would face Union Adventist in the semifinal after they beat Central Christian (MO) in a five set match. The Thunder would make quick work of the Warriors as they would sweep them for the third time this season (25-14, 25-9, 25-12) to advance to the championship match on Friday afternoon. Senior, Liv Lubbers and sophomore, Ellie Wilson would each have nine kills for the Thunder. Redshirt-sophomore, Sienna Alexander would have four aces, while senior, Hannah Beukelman would have six total blocks (1 solo, 5 assists). At the conclusion of this match, the senior trio of Lubbers, Beukelman, and Hali Clark would become the all-time winningest class in MCC Volleyball program history as they won their 110th match of their careers.

On Friday afternoon, the Thunder would take on the two seed in Calvary. The Thunder would set the tone early an win the first set, 25-10. The Warriors would battle in the second set, but the Thunder were too much and would win, 25-18. And in familiar fashion, the Thunder would sweep the Warriors taking the third set, 25-18, to claim the title of Central Region Champions. Wilson and Beukelman would lead the team in kill with 12 and eight, respectively, while Lubbers would have a great game defensively with 16 digs. With two wins this week and the title of Central Region Champions, the Thunder improve to 27-1 on the season.

The Thunder will await their seeding for the 2025 NCCAA National Tournament after all region tournaments conclude. The tournament will be hosted by Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.