ROCKLIN, Calif. – As the Warriors woke up on Tuesday, the normal stresses of selection day were not present as it was already known that Jessup had secured a bid to the NAIA Softball Opening Round. With winning the conference tournament comes a chance to play for a national title, but what did await the Warriors was who, when, and where the journey would begin.
 
The mystery is now over, as the NAIA announced the 40 teams qualifying for the National Tournament. Jessup, making their first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, will head up north to Oregon for the Klamath Falls Bracket.

"There is no boundary to what this team can achieve and we're excited for this next opportunity to play at the next round," said head coach Brie Campbell. "We're looking forward to competing at the Klamath Falls opening round with a group of talented teams."
 
Jessup's spot in Klamath Falls comes as a relief to those hoping to make travel arrangements for the tournament. Oregon Tech was the second closest site to Rocklin, sitting just an hour past Ashland and Southern Oregon University, which also will be hosting the opening round. For those wanting to make the trip, it will be a 300-mile drive from Rocklin, lasting approximately five and a half hours.
 
Four teams will call the Klamath Falls region home next week for the double-elimination format of the NAIA Opening Round. One team will be left standing at the end and will advance to the final site in Georgia.
 
It's time to meet the four teams setting up shop in the Beaver State.
 
(1) OREGON TECH OWLS | CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE | KLAMATH FALLS, ORE.
 
The host school for the Opening Round is none other than the runner-up of last season's national tournament, the Owls of Oregon Tech. Jessup and the Owls are no stranger to one another, as the two sides met four times this season, splitting their season series 2-2.
 
Oregon Tech is led by head coach Greg Stewart, now in his 18th season at the helm of the Owls. The Owls were champions of the CCC this season, topping The College of Idaho in eight innings on Sunday to capture the conference tournament title. It's the eighth conference championship under Stewart.
 
The Owls come into the tournament riding an eight-game win streak, sitting 46-10 overall on the year and 20-1 on their home field.
 
(2) WILLIAM JESSUP UNIVERSITY WARRIORS | GOLDEN STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE | ROCKLIN, CALIF.
 
The champions of the GSAC, both regular-season and tournament, the Warriors enter their first national tournament with the 2-seed in this regional. The Warriors are 36-13 this season and are coming off a week in which they outscored opponents 18-4 in Irvine.
 
Campbell is in her third season leading the Warriors and was named the GSAC Coach of the Year in 2022. Her squad featured a GSAC leading six All-GSAC players, including pitcher Katie Blankenheim who went 3-0 in the circle during the GSAC Tournament.
 
The Warriors started their season with a sweep of the then No. 1 team in the nation Oregon Tech. Jessup is the lone school from the GSAC to qualify for the NAIA Opening Round.
 
(3) UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE RED STORM | RIVER STATES CONFERENCE | RIO GRANDE, OHIO
 
Drawing the 3-seed and a Monday matchup with the Warriors is the Red Storm of the University of Rio Grande. Champions of the River States Conference regular-season title, Rio Grande, will be making their seventh nationals appearance in 2022.
 
After a 39-13 season, the Red Storm were eliminated by St. Mary of the Woods College in their conference tournament. Head coach Chris Hammond is in year seven leading the club and is a three-time RSC Coach of the Year award winner.
 
The Red Storm come into the tournament batting .333 as a team and are led by eight players posting a batting average over .300 this season. Raelynn Hastings leads the way in the circle with 139.2 innings pitched, posting an ERA of 3.16.
 
(4) COTTEY COLLEGE COMETS | CONTINENTAL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE | NEVADA, MO.
 
The 4-seed in the Klamath Falls Bracket is the Comets of Cottey College in Missouri. The Comets earned a spot in the tournament after finishing as runner-up in the CAC Tournament. This will be the second appearance for Cottey, making it back-to-back tournament berths after qualifying in 2021.
 
Mark Skapin leads the Comets in his sixth season at the helm of the program. The Comets went 30-15 this year, including a perfect 15-0 at home and 9-0 within the CAC.
 
Cottey comes into the tournament batting .327 as a team with 39 home runs and an average of 6.5 runs per game. Karina Ramirez, Elizabeth Thomas, and Aryana Palencia pace the Comet offense as the three all post averages over .390.
 
Action in Klamath Falls gets underway with the Warriors and Red Storm hitting the field Monday at noon. The Owls and Comets will then hit the field at 2:30. Game times for Tuesday and Wednesday are set, but the teams will be dependent on the outcome of Monday's games.
 
The two winning teams Monday will square off at noon on Tuesday, with the two losing teams playing at 2:30. An elimination game will follow at 5:00.
 
All games will be streamed live online (PPV) HERE. Games can also be listened to HERE.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).