PHOTOS: WORKING WITH SPECIAL OLYMPIANS | CHAMPIONSHIP BANQUET

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola University's volleyball team looks to cap off an impressive season this week at the 2008 NAIA National Championships Dec. 2-6 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Eagles enter the tournament ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Rankings, the highest in the program's 39-year history. Biola wrapped up the regular season with a 27-3 overall record and finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference with a 17-3 mark.

This marks the second consecutive season the Eagles have reached the NAIA National Championship tournament and the eighth trip overall. Biola finished tied for third in 2007, falling to the eventual champions Fresno Pacific in the semifinals.

The NAIA tournament has historically been good to the Eagles, who have an overall record of 30-15 and have reached at least the National Quarterfinals in each of their eight trips. Biola has a tough road this year, though, as just making it out of pool play could prove challenging.

The 24-team tournament opens on Tuesday, Dec. 2, with Biola facing Lubbock Christian University (Texas) at 3:45 p.m. (CT). The Lady Chaps, ranked No. 24 in the final NAIA Poll, wrapped up the regular season with a 33-4 record and winning the Sooner Athletic Conference title to earn their sixth trip to the national tournament. They picked up a sweep over Wiley College in the first round of this year's tournament to earn a trip to Iowa. Biola and LCU have beat the other twice in the all-time series with Lubbock scoring a 3-1 win in pool play of the 1999 NAIA National Tournament.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the Eagles take on No. 14 Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) at 3:45 p.m. (CT). The Warriors won the Frontier Conference title and posted a 29-2 record on the season. LCSC pulled off a 3-1 win over Shawnee State on Saturday to earn its ninth trip to the NAIA Championships. The teams last met in 2006 where Biola swept Lewis-Clark State at the Concordia University tournament. The two have split four matches in the all-time series.

Pool play wraps up on Thursday, Dec. 4, with Biola battling the No. 11 seed, Madonna University (Michigan) at 6:00 p.m. (CT). The Crusaders, who are making their seventh straight appearance and 11th overall, enter the tournament with a 35-4 record. Madonna won both the Wolverine Conference regular season and tournament titles and earned a first-round bye. Biola swept Madonna in 2007 during the Crusader's midseason tournament and also beat Madonna 3-1 in the NAIA Quarterfinals.

“Anytime you can get to the national tournament you are excited to get there, but this year comes with a little more expectation to it, coming in ranked No. 2 in the country,” said Head Coach Aaron Seltzer. “We really don't have an easy road as all three teams are formidable foes that we will have to work hard to beat.”

Fans can follow the action by watching all of Biola matches via the live webcast or with live stats. Both will be available through the Biola website at http://athletics.biola.edu.