Titans To Host NCAA Volleyball Regional

For the third time in five years, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh women's volleyball team will play on its home court in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship.

The NCAA announced on Monday (Nov. 9) that UW-Oshkosh will host an eight-team regional tournament beginning on Thursday (Nov. 12) in Kolf Sports Center. The Oshkosh Regional features seven matches, with four scheduled for Thursday, two for Friday (Nov. 13) and one for Saturday (Nov. 14). The winner of the Oshkosh Regional joins seven other regional champions in the quarterfinal round of the 62-team NCAA Division III Championship on Nov. 19 in University Heights, Ohio.

Competition in the Oshkosh Regional begins at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday as third-seeded University of Wisconsin-Whitewater plays sixth-seeded University of St. Thomas (Minn.). That contest is followed by a 3 p.m. match between second-seeded College of St. Benedict (Minn.) and seventh-seeded Luther College (Iowa).

Thursday's activity concludes with games at 5:30 p.m. between fourth-seeded University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and fifth-seeded St. Olaf College (Minn.) and 8 p.m. between top-seeded UW-Oshkosh and eighth-seeded St. Norbert College (Wis.).

UW-Oshkosh (35-2) is making its 14th (1990-91, 1993-97, 2000-01, 2005-09) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Titans won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season title and finished third in the league's postseason tournament. UW-Oshkosh placed second in the NCAA Division III Championship in 1994.

The College of St. Benedict (26-5) is making its 15th (1986-94, 1997-98, 2005, 2007-09) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Blazers shared the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) regular season title and won the league's postseason tournament.

UW-Whitewater (31-6) is making its 22nd (1986-89, 1992-2009) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Warhawks finished second in the WIAC during the regular season and captured the league's postseason tournament title. UW-Whitewater won NCAA Division III titles in 2002 and 2005 and finished second in the national tournament in 2000, 2001 and 2007.

UW-Eau Claire (30-7) is making its 12th (1987-89, 1993-94, 1996-97, 2005-09) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Blugolds finished third in the WIAC during the regular season and placed second in the league's postseason tournament.

St. Olaf College (27-4) is making its ninth (1993-98, 2000, 2002, 2009) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Oles finished third in the MIAC during the regular season and placed second in the league's postseason tournament.

The University of St. Thomas (24-7) is making its 11th (1987-92, 2005-09) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Tommies shared the MIAC regular season title and lost in the semifinal round of the league's postseason tournament.

Luther College (25-11) is making its first (2009) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Norse finished second in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the regular season and lost in the semifinal round of the league's postseason tournament.

St. Norbert College (24-9) is making its sixth (1993, 2002, 2004-05, 2008-09) NCAA Division III regional tournament appearance. The Green Knights were crowned regular season and postseason tournament champions in the Midwest Conference.

Six of the eight teams competing in the Oshkosh Regional are ranked nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. UW-Oshkosh is ranked second in the NCAA Division III, UW-Whitewater seventh, University of St. Thomas 14th, College of St. Benedict 15th, UW-Eau Claire 16th and St. Olaf College 20th.

Semifinal round matches in the Oshkosh Regional will be held Friday at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The championship contest of the Oshkosh Regional will be held Saturday at 7 p.m.