Lady Blues earn second NCAA berth in team history

Nov. 14, 2004 - The No. 16 Washburn Lady Blues volleyball earned the No. 3 seed in the NCAA South Central Regional Volleyball tournament Nov. 18-20 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. The Lady Blues will face sixth-seeded Harding (Ark.) University 12 p.m. Thursday.

Washburn, which fell to 28-6 after losing its last match 30-27, 30-22, 23-30, 29-31, 15-11 at No. 10 Central Missouri State in the MIAA Tournament semifinals Thursday, is making its second appearance to the NCAA Tournament in school history. The Lady Blues fell 30-27, 30-25, 30-25 to Central Missouri State in the 2002 South Central Region semifinals in Lee Arena.

The winner of the South Central Region Tournament earns a berth to the Elite Eight Dec. 2-4 at a site to be determined. The highest ranked regional winner will host the tournament.

NCAA SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL PAIRINGS
Thursday Nov. 18
No. 3 Washburn (28-6) vs. No. 6 Harding (30-7), 12 p.m.
No. 2 Central Mo. St. (29-6) vs. No. 7 Ala.-Huntsville (24-11), 2:30 p.m.
No. 4 North Alabama (24-6) vs. No. 5 Pittsburg State (22-12), 5 p.m.
No. 1 Truman State (32-0) vs. No. 8 Albany State, 7:30 p.m.
Friday Nov. 19
WU/HU vs. CMSU/UAH, 5 p.m.
UNA/PSU vs. TSU/ASU, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 20
Championship, 5 p.m.