On March 9, the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association selected the Eau Claire men’s club volleyball Blue team as one of 64 teams to qualify for Div. II nationals.

The team brought a lot of momentum and a No. 26 seed into Kansas City, Mo., last weekend after finishing the regular season 31-15 and finishing first in the Northern Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference tournament.

After pool play on Thursday and Friday, the team advanced to the Sweet 16, in the Div. II Gold Bracket on Saturday. Eau Claire lost in the first round of the Sweet 16 to No. 9 Ohio Northern, 17-25, 25-21, 11-15.

“There were a lot of skeptics of our ability as a team going into nationals,” senior Ryan Dalzell said. “That is why we received the 26th seed. We knew we were better than that, even if others didn’t.”

In the first round on Thursday, Eau Claire claimed a 2-1 record overall, finishing second in the bracket behind Syracuse University, N.Y. Eau Claire won its first game of the tournament against Sienna College, N.Y., 25-21, 25-19.

Eau Claire beat up on its fellow Wisconsinites in Stevens Point, 25-15, 22-25, 15-7. The Blue team lost to Syracuse in its third game, 25-21, 25-19.

Taking second in Thursday’s pool play bracket put a damper on Eau Claire’s chances of moving on. The team played in the Friday Challenge where it was paired with a team that finished third in its own respective pool play on Thursday.

Eau Claire drew Pomona-Pitzer, Calif., and downed them, 25-14, 25-21. The win brought the Eau Claire team one step closer to making it into the Sweet 16, which was its goal all year long.

“We were able to accomplish our goal with the leadership of seniors Dalzell and Gerry Brisco, who have competed at nationals in the past,” coach Ron “Duff” Martin said. “The guys played with a lot of intensity that proved they should be in the final 16 teams.”

Eau Claire finished tied with No. 11 Boston College for the best record in the four-team bracket in the Friday Championship Flight. Boston College edged the Eau Claire team to claim first place in the bracket because it had beaten Eau Claire for the tie-breaker.

The Blue team downed No. 6 Washington University (Mo.) in three close sets, 25-23, 22-25, 12-15. To claim its second win, Eau Claire finished off Northern Arizona, 23-25, 25-21, 10-15. Washington University and Northern Arizona rounded out the third and fourth spots.

“Eau Claire clearly proved that they are a championship team,” Martin said. “I think we surprised a lot of coaches and teams with our level of play.”

Eau Claire lost to the No. 9 seed Ohio Northern in the first round of the Sweet 16. After losing the first set, 17-25, the Blue team bounced back to win the second set, 25-21. Eau Claire then fell in the third and final set, 11-15.

Fellow NIVC member Providence College went home with the Div. II championship trophy. Dalzell said it was fun to see the team from Manitoba, Canada, win because it has been close to winning it all so many times.