January 19, 2022 | by Taylor Pill

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The 2022 NCCAA National Invitational is quickly approaching, and the Sabercats will open their season against some of the toughest opposition in the NCCAA with a national championship on the line.

The five-team tournament will be a round-robin format, meaning that all teams are guaranteed four matches, all playing each other, and the team with the most wins at the end will earn the title of national champions.

The tournament will be held at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois this Friday and Saturday, with the Sabercats' schedule as follows (all times Central):

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LINKS

SCHEDULE :: LIVE VIDEO ($) :: TOURNAMENT INFO 

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FIELD

Here is an overview of the field:

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A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FIELD

#1 Ottawa (Ariz.) (Golden State Athletic Conference) - The Spirit is the undisputed favorite in the field, as they have made the championship match all three years. The Arizona team took home the title in 2019 and suffered tough losses in the national championship the last two years. Even though the program was built in 2018, they've already gained serious momentum and will have the added motivation of coming just short twice in a row.

The Spirit's win in the 2019 tournament makes them the only champions in the 2022 field. 

#2 Trinity Christian (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) - The Trolls are the tournament host, and they hosted the event in 2020, where they finished 6th in a hyper-competitive field of eight teams. Trinity had a 20-game season in 2021 but did not play in any national or conference tournaments. Expect the Trolls to hit the ground running, as the three-year program will look to capitalize on competing for a national title on their home court.

Trinity has the added advantage of a playing rhythm, as they already have a few matches under their belts. Trinity is dually affiliated in the NCCAA and the NAIA.

#3 Geneva (Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference) - The Golden Tornadoes are 1-2 on the season, as they and Trinity are the only two teams to come into the Invitational after having played a match already. Geneva's 10-7 record in 2021 included a competitive loss to NCAA DIII #3 Penn State Behrend to conclude the season in the AMCC playoffs.

The Golden Tornadoes are dually affiliated in the NCCAA and the NCAA DIII.

#4 Maranatha (DIII Independent) - The Sabercats are one of two teams that have competed all three years at the National Invitational, and they will be looking to secure their best-ever finish at the national stage. New head coach Micah Shepard and the team will look to take advantage of opening the tournament against a brand new program and maybe start to think about a surprise or two after that.

#5 Central (Great Plains Athletic Conference) - The Tigers are a brand new program in the field, and they have no time to breathe as a new program - their first match ever will be in the crucible of a national championship. Central had three matches on the schedule (last weekend), but they were cancelled due to COVID-19. Read more about the start of the Tigers' program HERE.

Central is dually affiliated in the NCCAA and the NAIA. 

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The stage is set, and the action starts Friday. Visit mbusabercats.com/schedule for up-to-date information on the tournament all weekend long.