The national champion Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds are a strong bet to repeat at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship December 2-6 in Sioux City, Iowa.

"FPU captured its third national title last season and is once again the favorite this season," according to the website of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). "The Sunbirds are perfect on the season with a 30-0 record and were ranked No. 1 in every Coaches' Top 25 Poll this season."
 

Pool play begins next Tuesday, December 2, in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena for the 29th annual tournament.

The 24 teams will play round-robin until December 4. On December 5 the top two teams from each of the six pools will advance to the single-elimination bracket. The championship match will be Saturday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. (CST).

For more,visit the NAIA website.

At three apiece, FPU and Columbia College (Mo.) are tied for the most national titles among current NAIA members. Each team makes its 15th-consecutive championship appearance in 2008.

This Sunbird squad includes seven seniors competing in the final matches of their FPU careers. These athletes and their teammates are no strangers to accomplishment:

* Win-loss record: 141-4
* Home court win-loss record: 62-0
* GSAC win-loss record: 77-2
* Weeks spent ranked #1 nationally: 26
* Nationally ranked in the top three their entire collegiate career
* GSAC championships: 4
* "Elite eight" finish: 1 (2005)
* National runner-up: 1 (2006)
* National championship: 1 (2007)
* Current winning streak: 42 (goes back to last season)

Among the seniors, Shi Liu has been GSAC Volleyball Player of the Year three times in a row, and has been named to the All-GSAC Team each of her four years at FPU. Thaos Julio and Fabiana Leomil have each been on three All-GSAC teams.

In addition, sophomores Lisa Shilling and Keke Wang were also on this year's all-conference team.