Lady Blues fifth in South Central Region Poll

For immediate release - Nov. 5, 2003

The No. 24 Washburn volleyball team is fifth in the latest NCAA Division II South Central Region Poll, which was released by the NCAA Wednesday.

Five other MIAA schools were ranked in the top 10, including No. 1 Truman State, No. 2 Pittsburg State, No. 3 Pittsburg State, and No. 4 Emporia State. Missouri Southern was eighth 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. Truman State, which won the MIAA regular season title, will be the likely host.

Washburn improved to 26-8 with a win over MidAmerica Nazarene Monday night. The Lady Blues are back in action 2 p.m. Saturday at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. Washburn will be the No. 5 seed in the MIAA tournament and travel to either Emporia State or Central Missouri State 7 p.m. on Nov. 11.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION VOLLEYBALL POLL
Rank Team Overall Record(Region)
1. Truman 28-4 (21-1)
2. Pittsburg State 24-6 (19-5)
3. Central Missouri State 21-9 (15-5)
4. Emporia State 19-13 (10-6)
5. Washburn 25-8 (15-7)
6. North Alabama 24-6 (19-4)
7. West Florida 24-4 (12-4)
8. Missouri Southern 17-10 (13-10)
9. Montevallo 20-6 (13-5)
10. Harding 25-8 (15-7)
*Records as of 11-2-02