Volleyball Heads Back to Regionals

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Catawba will be one of 64 teams to compete in the 2011 NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships, it was announced by the national office on Sunday night.  The Catawba Indians will play with eight other teams in the Southeast Regional Tournament which will be held on the campus of Wingate University this coming weekend. 

The Lady Indians join four other South Atlantic Conference schools in the regional.  The SAC’s representation in the Championship field more than doubles that of the other two conferences in the Southeast Region.

Catawba (23-7) drew the #4-seed and will face conference foe Lincoln Memorial (22-6) in the opening round.  That match is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday in Cuddy Arena.  The teams split their regular season meetings, each winning on their home floor.  The Lady Indians had an 11-match winning streak snapped in the SAC Tournament final against Wingate, while LMU was upset in the opening round.

Leading the SAC into the Championship is Wingate, which earned the region’s No. 1 seed.  The Bulldogs enter the event at 30-0 after sweeping through the SAC regular season and Food Lion SAC Championship.  Wingate advanced to the national quarterfinals last year and open the 2011 regional against Lees-McRae (27-8), champions of Conference Carolinas.   

Earning the region’s No. 6 seed is Tusculum, which enters the Championship with a record of 18-12.  The Pioneers will face third-seeded Armstrong (35-2) in the first round.  Newberry is the No. 7 seed, marking its first NCAA Championship bid in school history.  The Wolves, currently 16-15 overall, will face Peach Belt Tournament champion Flagler (28-6) in their first match. 

Play in the NCAA Championship Southeast Region will take place Nov. 18-20 at Wingate.  Daily ticket prices will by $10 for adults, $6 for students and $4 for children under 12.

Friday, November 18
12 noon - #3 Armstrong (Ga.) (35-2) vs. #6 Tusculum (18-12)
2:30 p.m. - #2 Flagler (28-6) vs. #7 Newberry (16-15)
5 p.m. - #4 Catawba (23-7) vs. #5 Lincoln Memorial (22-6)
7:30 p.m. - #1 Wingate (30-0) vs. #8 Lees-McRae (27-8)

Saturday, November 19, 2011
4 p.m. - Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
6:30 p.m. - Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4

Sunday, November 20, 2011
4 p.m. - NCAA Division II Southeast Regional match #7 (championship match)