OUAZ MVB Gets Ready for NAIA National Tournament Appearance

Surprise, Ariz.-- On Tuesday morning, the NAIA came out with their 7th annual men's volleyball selection show, and the OUAZ Spirit, for the fourth time in program history, were a part of the teams selected with an at-large bid. The team will officially head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and compete in the program's fourth stint in the tournament in the past five years. Coach Afusia, in only his second year, has brought this program back to being a juggernaut, as it had been earlier this decade. The Spirit find themselves ranked #8 in the country and in pool A, alongside undefeated #1 overall Park University, Missouri, and #9-ranked Westcliff University.

The Spirit's resume this year left no doubts in the committee's mind that they deserved to be in the tournament field. The team not only doubled their win total from last year but also had some truly remarkable victories and tight matchups that put them in this conversation. To start the season, the team took Heart of America Conference runner-ups and nationally ranked #4 overall Missouri Valley to a five-set matchup where the Spirit almost pulled off the upset. After a dominant showing at that exact tournament, which included a sweep of the at-the-time ranked Morningside, the team came back home and swept the #9-ranked Westcliff Warriors. Then after a tough loss on the road in a hostile environment at #2-ranked Masters, the team caught fire, winning their next 11 straight games. The biggest victory in this stretch came against eventual WHAC tournament runner-up and #12 Indiana Tech in a barn burner. Then to close out the year, the team had arguably the most impactful upset in the NAIA this year, defeating #2-ranked Masters University in a five-set thriller. The Mustangs boasted a 20-0 record, were undefeated national champions in 2025, defeated several Division I programs, and had not lost since the 2024 national championship. This victory ultimately thrust the team from #11 all the way to the #6 spot and allowed the team to finish undefeated at home. Although the team fell in the GSAC Championship in one of the toughest places to play in the country, the Spirit showed they could compete with the best and deserved this postseason berth.

Now heading to the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Iowa, the team faces a significant challenge ahead. The team starts out pool play against a familiar foe, Westcliff University, on Wednesday, April 29th, at 5pm. The season series ended in a split as both teams won at home. Westcliff won the most recent matchup in a sweep, which definitely makes this a revenge matchup for the Spirit. Then, the very next day, they will prepare to face powerhouse Park University Missouri on Thursday, April 30th, at 5pm. The history between both programs at Nationals started way before this year and is worth noting, as the Pirates have sent the Spirit home in pool play twice. Both matches in different years have ended up being 5-set nail-biters in favor of Park. The Spirit will look to change the course of this history with a huge evening matchup to wrap up pool play. To clinch the pool and advance, the Spirit must either win out or win the tiebreaker in one-set matchups if a three-way tie were to occur. If the Spirit do in fact win the pool, they will face the winner of pool D. This pool includes two teams they have already faced this season in Missouri Valley and Indiana Tech as well as #5-ranked Campbellsville.

The team will be led by the dynamic tandem of Caeden Salmen and Horatio Maumasi. Both players earned spots on the GSAC All-Conference team for the second year in a row and will look to finish the year strong. Salmen, who is heading into his final collegiate stretch, is one of the most feared outsides in the country. The graduate senior has a wickedly quick swing and is putting up another efficient year hitting .298 on the season. Maumasi, on the other hand, has been arguably one of the best middles in the NAIA. The junior is hitting at a .497 clip and has several double-digit kill performances. Sophomore Jack Hubbard is another amazing piece in this powerful offense that will look to have a strong national tournament. The Spirit have had clear success when the high flyer puts pressure on opposing defenses. In the upset win over the Masters, Hubbard showed how efficient he can be when he is connecting with fellow teammate and GSAC All-Conference setter Madduxx Goron. Goron will also look to continue his strong season conducting this high-powered offense among all its weapons. This four-headed monster also includes another All-Conference selection and national champion, Treven Clizbe. Clizbe, from the middle position, has a plethora of routes that leave opposing blockers in a blunder and open up opportunities for Salmen or Hubbard. Bodhi Bettes leads the team from the libero position ahead of his stellar junior year. Bettes has been a dominant force in serve-receive and has a quick twitch that makes him an elite defender. The team boasts sneaky weapons Owen Draeger, who can come in at any time to be an amazing blocking presence, and crafty freshman opposite Jackson Blair. We may also perhaps see players like AJ Scott make an impact from the serving side and setter Jacob Rangel coming in to push this offense in certain scenarios.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Caeden Salmen: OH; 6' 3"; Senior

#15 Horatio Maumasi: MB; 6' 4"; Freshman

#24 Bodhi Bettes: L; 6' 0"; Freshman

#27 Owen Draeger: MB; 6' 9"; Sophomore

#7 Jack Hubbard: OH/OPP; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#29 Jacob Rangel: S; 6' 4"; Junior

#18 AJ Scott: L/OH; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#25 Jackson Blair: OPP/MB; 6' 2"; Freshman

#10 Madduxx Goron: S/OPP; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#21 Treven Clizbe: OH/OPP/MB; 6' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#13 Caeden Salmen
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OH

#15 Horatio Maumasi
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: MB

#24 Bodhi Bettes
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: L

#27 Owen Draeger
: 6' 9"; Sophomore
: MB

#7 Jack Hubbard
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: OH/OPP

#29 Jacob Rangel
: 6' 4"; Junior
: S

#18 AJ Scott
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: L/OH

#25 Jackson Blair
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: OPP/MB

#10 Madduxx Goron
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: S/OPP

#21 Treven Clizbe
: 6' 6"; Junior
: OH/OPP/MB