Manhattan Christian College Athletics and Thunder Volleyball are excited to reveal the 2025 volleyball schedule. Coming off another trip to the 2024 National Tournament and a Final Four finish, the Thunder are ready for another push towards their goal of winning a National Championship. MCC finished with a 27-6 record in 2024 and were the Midwest Christian College Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions, finishing undefeated for the sixth year in a row. They currently hold a regular season match win streak of 56 consecutive matches. The Thunder won the Central Regional Tournament Championship as well, which was their eighth Region Championship advancing the team to the National Championship Tournament for the sixteenth time in the last 20 seasons. 

The season kicks off with the Thunder Invitational Tournament on August 29th and 30th, facing three NAIA opponents over this weekend. MCC will host NCCAA opponent, Dallas Christian College, before facing Cottey College, Sterling College, and Central Christian College (KS). September and October are filled with Midwest Christian College Conference and NCCAA Central Region play. 

The Thunder squad will also compete in two tri-matches in September traveling to York University on September 6th to play Kansas Christian College and York, while in late-September they will go to Sterling College to play Southwestern College (KS) and Sterling. Prior to the Sterling Tri-Match, the Thunder will face Friends University in a regular season home match on September 23rd.

The final month of regular season will finish with more conference and region play, as well as opponents Randall University and NAIA opponent, Stephens College, at home before a second match-up with Cottey on the road. 

The Midwest Christian College Conference Tournament will be held at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri on October 31st and November 1st. The NCCAA Central Region Tournament will be held at Barclay College in Haviland, Kansas as the Thunder will compete for a spot in the NCCAA National Volleyball Championship for the fifth consecutive season. The National Championship Tournament will also be held in Joplin, Missouri at Ozark Christian College on November 19th-22nd. 

Check out the entire schedule here: 2025 Volleyball Schedule

Tickets for the 2025 season will be posted to the SidelineTix website and app later this summer. To purchase tickets, fans can visit www.mccthunder.com and click the "Get Tickets" tab.

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 garnered another honor this week as they were named a NCCAA Scholar Team by the National Christian College Athletic Association. To receive this honor, teams need a minimum grade point average of 3.40 on a 4.00 scale for all combined student-athletes on the team. The volleyball team had a fall semester GPA of 3.53, who were one of 11 NCCAA Division II volleyball teams to make the list. They were one of 32 women's volleyball teams in the entire NCCAA to be on the list, one of 42 institutions in the entire NCCAA represented on the list, and one of 85 total Fall teams in the entire NCCAA to make the list. To see the full list of teams, click this link.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

The Thunder volleyball team completed another historic season by making it to the the NCCAA Division II National Tournament Final Four for the fourth consecutive season. The Thunder would also win all three pool play games for the fourth time in a row. In the 2024 National Tournament, the Thunder would knock off the six-time defending national champions, the Bob Jones University Bruins, by way of sweep to open the tournament. This would be the first time in program history that the Thunder have beat the Bruins. A five set thriller against the eventual national champions in the national semifinal would be the end of the season for the Thunder.

Individual accomplishments would be racked up by Thunder student-athletes as well. Junior, outside hitter, Liv Lubbers would earn Midwest Christian College Conference MVP and a first team nod, NCCAA Central Region first team, and first team All-American honors. Junior, middle hitter, Jacey Schurle would earn a conference first team nod, region MVP and a first team nod, and first team All-American honors. Junior, defensive specialist, Abby Blake would be a conference second teamer and first team all-region performer. Sophomore, setter, Josie Mehl would also be a conference second teamer and first team all-region performer. Junior, middle hitter, Hannah Beukelman was named to the second team all-region team, while also earning NCCAA Scholar-Athlete honors. Freshman, outside hitter, Ellie Wilson would earn second team all-region honors in her first season with the Thunder. Junior, Hali Clark would round out the student-athlete honors as she was named a NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. Head coach, Lauren Sanders would region coach of the year as well.

Lubbers, Blake and Mehl would play in all 109 sets in the 33 matches played. Schurle would lead the team in kills with 349 on the season, while Lubbers would have 328 kills. Wilson would lead all freshman with 261 kills on the year. As a team, the Thunder would have a 0.310 attack percentage. Mehl would total 1,172 assists from her setter position, while averaging 10.75 assists per set. Sophomore, Jozie Kanode would lead the team in service aces with 50. Blake would lead the defense with 614 digs with only 24 receiving errors. Schurle would have 84 total blocks (41 assists, 43 solo), while Beukelman would total 46 total blocks (25 assists, 21 solo) to help the defense.

The Thunder would conclude the season with a 27-6 record making it the fourth consecutive season with at least 26 victories. Over the past four seasons, the Thunder have compiled a 110-23 record with a 82.7% winning percentage. The Thunder also finished the MCCC with an 8-0 record adding to their conference regular season match win streak as it now sits at 56 straight matches. They also went 12-0 in region play. A sixth consecutive conference regular season and tournament championship title and a third region championship in a row would add to the list of team accolades.

Head coach Lauren Sanders had this to say about the Thunder's stellar season, "This season was another incredible season for MCC volleyball! We started off with a few key wins over NAIA teams and a stretch of conference and region wins. Then mid-season, the team battled through a couple of tough losses and it stretched and grew them into a stronger team. Going into the National Tournament, we were confident, prepared, and excited for the challenge! We played a solid tournament finishing in the Final Four. While it was not the outcome we wanted, we are very proud of this team and the heart and fight they showed on the court each and every game. We will return nearly every player, as we have no graduating seniors this season. We cannot wait to add a few more key players and come back next year ready to compete again!"

We want to thank all of the fans, students, faculty and staff for supporting our volleyball team this season! We look forward to next season. Roll Thunder!

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

After a 27 win season, a conference title, a region title, and Final Four appearance, the Thunder volleyball team finished the season ranked #3 in the nation in the final postseason NCCAA Coaches' Poll. The Thunder finish ranked behind national champion Arlington Baptist and national runner-up Bob Jones with 40 total points. Since 2021, the Thunder have won 13 matches at the NCCAA National Tournament and have made the Final Four every year with a national championship match appearance in 2023. For the full final postseason top-10 rankings for DII Women's Volleyball, click this link.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

The Thunder volleyball team had two players represented on the NCCAA DII Volleyball National Tournament All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament in Joplin, Missouri. Junior, middle hitter and first-team All-American, Jacey Schurle would be named to the 2024 all-tournament team. Schurle would total 54 kills on a 0.336 attack percentage in four games. She would also have eight services aces and 14 block assists on the weekend. Junior, outside hitter and two-time first team All-American, Liv Lubbers would also get an all-tournament team nod. Lubbers would total 36 kills, seven service aces, six block assists, and 40 digs in four games. The Thunder would conclude their season in the Final Four falling to the eventual national champions in Arlington Baptist. The Thunder finish the season with 27 or more wins, a conference title, region title, and Final Four appearance for the third consecutive year. To see the full list of the NCCAA DII women's volleyball All-Tournament team, click this link.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

The Thunder volleyball team went 3-0 in pool play to win the pool for a match-up with #2 seed the Arlington Baptist Patriots, who were the runner-up in pool B. The national semifinal match would not disappoint as it would go the distance to a fifth and deciding set. The Thunder would fall behind 2-0 before answering back with a win in set three and set four. The Thunder would battle back in the fifth set, but fall short to ultimately drop the match 3-2 (21-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 10-15) and end their run in the Final Four. Four Thunder player would record double-digit kills led by junior, Jacey Schurle who had 16 on the night. Junior, Hannah Beukelman, and freshmen, Jayda Juenemann and Ellie Wilson would all have 11 kills for the Thunder. Sophomore, Josie Mehl would set up the offense with 47 assist, while Abby Blake led the defense with 34 digs. The Thunder finished the season 27-6 with a Midwest Christian College Conference Tournament Championship, NCCAA Central Region Tournament Championship, and a Final Four appearance.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

The Thunder volleyball team would play one pool play game on Thursday evening against the #8 seed Grace Christian University Tigers. With the results of earlier matches, the Thunder had clinched a spot in the National Tournament Semifinal on Friday afternoon. With the win by a sweep over the Tigers (25-14, 25-14, 25-23), the Thunder won pool A with a record of 3-0. The Thunder were led offensively by junior, Jacey Schurle who had 14 kills and a 0.684 attack percentage. Her middle counterpart, junior, Hannah Beukelman would have nine kills and a 0.615 attack percentage. Freshman, Jayda Juenemann would also have an efficient night from the outside will six kills and a 0.455 attack percentage. Jozie Kanode and Liv Lubbers would combine for seven service aces for the Thunder who had 10 total on the night as a team. Junior, Abby Blake would lead the defense with 13 digs.

The Thunder will await their opponent from pool B as there will be a tie-breaker set tomorrow morning between the #2 seed Arlington Baptist University Patriots and the #6 seed Pensacola Christian College Eagles. The semifinal match will be at 3:00 PM.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

The Thunder volleyball team started their quest for a NCCAA National Championship on Wednesday morning. The Thunder would open tournament pool play with a match-up with the reigning national champions, the #4 seed Bob Jones University Bruins. The Thunder were firing on all cylinders this morning as they would make quick work of the Bruins by way of a sweep (26-24, 25-12, 26-24). Earlier this season, the Bruins would beat the Thunder 3-1 on a neutral floor. Junior, two-time first-team All-American, Liv Lubbers would lead the way for the Thunder with a stellar 13 kills on 31 attempts and only two errors. Lubbers would also have 10 digs and two block assists. Junior, All-American, Jacey Schurle chip in with six kills, six service aces, and four block assists. Sophomore, Josie Mehl would have 30 assists on 38 team kills.

The next task for the Thunder would be a few hours later when they would take on the #1 seed Randall University Saints. The Thunder also dropped a match to the Saints earlier in the season by a score of 3-0. This match would not disappoint as the Thunder would play their second five set match of the season, where they would come out on top, 3-2 (25-23, 9-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11). Schurle would have a team-leading 18 kills and five block assist, while Lubbers would have nine kills. Freshman, Ellie Wilson would have 10 kills for Thunder and sophomore, Jozie Kanode would have four service aces and 16 digs.

The Thunder will play their final pool play game tomorrow at 5:30 PM against the #8 seed Grace Christian University Tigers.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc

The Thunder volleyball team have earned more individual accolades this season with these being at the national level. The two Thunder players who were represented on the NCCAA All-American teams were junior, middle hitter, Jacey Schurle, and junior, outside hitter, Liv Lubbers. Schurle has swept the first-team awards this season as she was a first-team All-Conference, All-Region, as well as MVP of the region, and All-American. Lubbers would do much of the same with being the MVP of the conference and a first-team member of the others. This is Lubbers second time being named an All-American, as she was a first-teamer in 2023. 

The Thunder would also have two players earn NCCAA Scholar-Athlete honors. To be a NCCAA Scholar-Athlete the player must be a junior, senior, or graduate student, be a competing student-athlete or a varsity letter winner, and they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.40. Junior, middle hitter, Hannah Beukelman and junior, middle hitter, Hali Clark would earn the Scholar-Athlete honors. To see the full list of NCCAA DII women's volleyball All-Americans and Scholar-Athletes, click this link.

Stay up-to date on all Thunder Athletics and Volleyball news on our social media pages!

Facebook: Manhattan Christian College Athletics

Twitter: @mccathletics & @volleyballmcc

Instagram: @mccathletics & volleyball_mcc