Nov. 13, 2000
Truman Volleyball Team Earns No. 3 Seed for Regional Tournament
The Truman State University women's volleyball team will be returning to the NCAA Division II postseason for the first time since 1994 when they travel this week to Florence, Ala. for the South Central Regional Tournament.
The Bulldogs, who ended the regular season with a 28-5 record, including an 18-4 mark in the South Central Region, captured the No. 3 seed, the NCAA selection committee announced on Sunday night.
Truman will face a familiar opponent in Thursday's first round, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association foe and No. 6 seed Missouri Western (20-10). The two will be playing in the opening match of the tournament, at 4 p.m. Thursday. Fourth-seeded Arkansas Tech (37-4) and No. 5 seed Montevallo (Ala.) (30-8) will square off in the 6 p.m. match on Thursday.
Truman dueled MWSC twice during the season and both matches went five games with the Bulldogs winning both. The 'Dogs have won four straight over the Griffons and lead the all-time series 22-19.
Host and top seed North Alabama and No. 2 seed Central Missouri State have first-round byes. The Truman-Missouri Western winner will meet CMSU (26-7) in the semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday. At 5 p.m. on Friday, North Alabama (37-2) will take on the winner of the Arkansas Tech-Montevallo clash.
The regional championship will be played at 2 p.m. on Saturday with the winner advancing on to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight to be played on Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at a site to be announced.
The Bulldogs will be making only their second-ever appearance in NCAA Division II postseason action. In 1994, Truman went to the South Central Regional at Warrensburg, Mo., only to fall to CMSU in its first match at the tournament.
Truman enters the regional tournament having wrapped up the regular season with the best winning percentage (.848) in program history. The Bulldogs, currently ranked No. 19 in the nation, also won their first-ever MIAA championship, sharing the 2000 title with CMSU. The 'Dogs' 28 victories is the second-best win total in team history.
Complete NCAA Division II Bracket