CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Catawba Valley Community College volleyball program hopes to go the distance this week in its pursuit of a first-ever national championship.

The Red Hawks (20-2) touched down in Iowa on Sunday afternoon, setting their sights on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII Championship, which is being held in the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena from Tuesday through Thursday.

First-year CVCC head volleyball coach Madison Pogue said her team's national tournament appearance — the 10th in program history — comes after a very different and challenging 2021 season.

"They've overcome a lot of adversity," Pogue said. "I'm a new coach. They had no idea who I was even though I had been around. They've had to fight through their season changing. They had a whole six months of workouts before they even got to start the season. We didn't travel as much. Anything that could have flipped upside down was. To show that strength, resilience and dedication to their sport and team to get back to where we are is a blessing."

Sophomore setter Amber Barker said this 2021 volleyball season has been very different compared to her first season at CVCC.

"Coming in as a sophomore, the biggest difference has been between traveling so much last year versus this year," she said. "Being able to practice and focus this year on nationals has been better for us in a sense. Last year we had so many games that we were always focused on the next game. Now, we've had two weeks of practice working towards nationals."

For many of the Red Hawk freshmen volleyball players — including middle hitter Kennya Sykes — their first volleyball season at CVCC has been challenging, but rewarding.

"At the beginning of the season, it was rough," Sykes said. "Coming into the season with a new coach, some of the girls didn't know what to expect. It was just rough at the beginning, but we're happy we pulled through. We made it."

The Red Hawks have been ranked by the NJCAA as high as No. 1 in the nation and as low as No. 8 — remaining inside the top five for a majority of the season.

After claiming the Southeast District A Championship, Catawba Valley was seeded sixth in this year's NJCAA DII volleyball tournament.

"I'm a firm believer that numbers don't matter when you get into this 'Sweet Sixteen.' We're close to 'March Madness,' and anybody can beat anybody on any given day," Pogue said. "That's what I drill into our team. At this point, everybody wants it. It's all about who wants it more and who sticks to their style of play more."

Barker took many positives away from the Red Hawks' tournament seeding.

"There was a little bit of disappointment, but all the teams here at nationals are good teams," she said. "There isn't a single team that is bad. I really think that being sixth and being in the middle is a good place to be."

Sykes uses her team's tournament seeding as motivation.

"Other people may see us as number six, but I don't see us as number six," Sykes said. "We're going to show it on the court. We are the first team to step out on the court at 9 o'clock, but we're going to treat every game like it's for a championship."

Awaiting CVCC in the first round is a North Platte team which is seeded 11th after winning the Northwest Plains Championship. The Knights (15-14) are making their first national tournament appearance since 2010.

The Red Hawks and Knights will play one of the first two matches on Tuesday — competing at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena.

"I think it's going to be great game," Pogue said of the match up with the Knights. "I know it's going to be early, but I'm going to have them hyped before 8 a.m., which I think will be a record in itself. We're going to come out and do what we do. It's been fun to prep for it. I love analyzing teams and breaking down film. It's been good to get that two weeks of practice in and focus on what we're going to do in Iowa."

Driven all year by the possibility of winning the program's first national championship, Barker is excited for the opportunity to make school history.

"Just going to nationals like CVCC has for so many years, it would be nice to bring one home," Barker said of a national title. "I think that this year could be our year to do that."

Win or lose, Pogue is hopeful her players will soak up the experience of competing on the national stage.

"I just hope that they cherish the moment that they are in," she said. "I think that's what takes teams to the next level — playing together, playing for each other and playing for a purpose that's bigger than yourself. I hope that they embody that. I hope they come out aggressive and that even if we are placed sixth we are top dog out here."