NCAA Regional Rankings (PDF)
Oct. 30, 2009 – The 18th-ranked Truman volleyball team moved up to fifth in the most recent edition of the South Central regional poll, released Thursday by the NCAA. For the second straight poll, the Bulldogs are one of six MIAA teams in the top-eight.
Truman (21-9 overall, 9-5 MIAA) jumped one spot after picking up in-region wins against 3rd-seeded Emporia State and 6th-seeded Nebraska-Omaha during the last two-week period. The only Bulldog loss during that stretch was to Washburn, who came in above Truman at No. 4 in the regional poll.
The overall top-4 stayed the same, as Central Missouri continued to hold the top spot with Lone Star conference-member West Texas A&M staying at No. 2. After the Truman and UNO flip at Nos. 5 and 6, LSC-member Abilene Christian came in at No. 7 in front of Pittsburg State at No. 8. Missouri Southern and Southeastern Oklahoma State rounded out the top-10.
Eight teams qualify from the South Central region for the NCAA tournament, with the three conference champions (MIAA, LSC, Heartland) receiving automatic bids. The next set of regional rankings will be released on Thursday, Nov. 12 before the tournament field is announced on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Truman has made the tournament each of the past nine seasons and has reached the final weekend five times during that stretch. The Bulldogs travel to Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State for matches this weekend before battling Central Missouri and Nebraska-Omaha next week.