Antelope Valley in NAIA tournament despite school's shutdown

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Despite its school no longer operating after a government order to "cease operation of all degree programs" by a Friday deadline because of financial mismanagement, Antelope Valley's men's team is a 6-seed that will face 11-seed Huntington (Indiana) in the first round in Glendale, Arizona, on March 15, following Thursday's NAIA tournament bracket reveal. The women's team, which qualified for the NAIA tournament after it won the California Pacific Conference regular-season title, is a 13-seed that will face 4-seed Southern Oregon in Ashland, Oregon, on March 15.

"Unlike most teams this year who might be happy or upset with their seeding or matchup, we are feeling beyond blessed that we even get to compete," Mast told ESPN. "The players have been through a lot as our school has officially announced it is closing [Friday]. They have still not communicated to any of us or the students what their plans are for helping students find a new school, or housing or finish their degree. The burden has fallen on the students, their families, our staff, and others in the community that care about the well-being of these young men and women."

Last month, officials at Antelope Valley, a private school in Lancaster, California, told Mast and the other coaches at the school that the teams' seasons would be canceled because of the pending closure of the campus due to financial difficulties and they wouldn't be allowed to participate in the NAIA tournament. Mast knew trouble was ahead when he and other staffers received just 25% of their normal paychecks last month.

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