Volleyball To Host First Weekend of NCAA Tourney
Monday, November 27, 2000 | Volleyball
The No. 9 Florida volleyball team (27-4) has been selected the No. 4 Seed in the Pacific region, earning its 10th consecutive appearance (1991-2000) in the 64-team NCAA Championship bracket, NCAA officials announced Sunday night.
The Gators will play host to the first and second rounds, taking on Sun Belt Conference Champion Arkansas-Little Rock (23-6) in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Thursday Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.. Also playing at the home site will be Atlantic Coast Conference Champion North Carolina (26-7) and Ohio Valley Conference Champ Southeast Missouri State (22-8). That pairing will play the same day at 5 p.m. The winners of the Thursday's pairings will play Friday Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Southern Cal (25-2) is the top seed in the region, followed by Colorado State and Penn State. It is the first time under Coach Mary Wise UF is not a Top 3 region seed. But, Wise was not disturbed by that. "It is about what we expected. Our hope was to be a Top 16 seed. We didn't figure on a Top 8 because of the teams that beat us. We're glad to be one of the teams that gets to host at home."
The Gators clinched their eighth automatic berth into the post-season tournament with a home sweep of Louisiana State in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. South Carolina (21-6) and Tennessee (23-9) also will represent the SEC.
UF is 10-4 against the entire field and 4-2 against teams in the region this season.
Tickets will be on sale Monday Nov. 27 at the University Athletic Association Ticket Office. Until Thursday, tickets must be purchased in a package, which includes all three matches. Prices are $10 for general admission, $6 for students and senior citizens, and $4 for children 12 and under. Individual event tickets can be purchased starting Thursday for $6 for general admission, $5 for students and senior citizens, and $3 for children 12 and under. For more information, contact the UAA Ticket office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR (in Florida only).
Following is a list of the top four seeds in each region.
Central West Mideast Pacific
1. Nebraska 1. Hawaii 1. Wisconsin 1. Southern California
2. Arizona 2. Minnesota 2. Pacific (Cal) 2. Colorado State
3. Brigham Young 3. UC Santa Barbara 3. UCLA 3. Penn State
4. Ohio State 4. Santa Clara 4. Pepperdine 4. Florida
A complete bracket can be viewed on www.GatorZone.com or www.ncaachampionships.com .
