Lady Blues fourth in South Central Region Poll

For immediate release - Oct. 8, 2003

The No. 23 Washburn volleyball team is fourth in the initial NCAA Division II South Central Region Poll, which was released by the NCAA Wednesday.

Six MIAA schools were ranked in the top 10, including No. 1 Truman State, No. 2 Central Missouri State and No. 3 Pittsburg State. Emporia State was eighth, while Missouri Western was ninth in the poll.

Six teams, including automatic berths from the MIAA, Gulf South Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, qualify for the 48-team NCAA Tournament. The South Central Regional is Nov. 20-22 at a site to be determined.

Washburn, which improved to 20-4 with a 30-21, 30-23, 19-30, 30-16 win over No. 18 Fort Hays Sate Tuesday, hosts the Lady Blues Invitational this weekend.

Washburn faces Wayne (Neb.) State College Friday at 7:30 p.m. after the opening match between Emporia State and Rockhurst at 5 p.m. The Invitational concludes with Wayne State against Emporia State at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by Wayne State against Rockhurst at 1:30 p.m.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION VOLLEYBALL POLL
Rank Team Overall Record(Region)
1. Truman 18-2 (12-0)
2. Central Missouri State 16-6 (11-2)
3. Pittsburg State 16-1 (13-1)
4. Washburn 19-4 (11-3)
5. Montevallo 15-4 (8-3)
6. North Alabama 12-6 (7-4)
7. West Florida 18-1 (6-1)
8. Emporia State 11-11 (4-4)
9. Missouri Western 9-6 (6-5)
10. Harding 12-7 (4-6)
*Records as of 10-5-02