For the fifth time in league history, at least three league volleyball teams have been selected as part of the field of 64 teams to play for the 2012 NCAA national title. This marks the seventh straight season that multiple MVC teams were invited to the dance. Three conference teams were a part of the 2011, 2010, 2008 and 2007 NCAA Championship fields.
2012 Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship winner and nationally ranked Creighton will be joined by at-large selections UNI and Wichita State in the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. First and second round matches will be played from Dec. 1-3.
CREIGHTON
Creighton (28-3) is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance, earning the league’s automatic berth for the first time in program history. Creighton returns to the Big Dance for the second time in the past three seasons. The Bluejays will square off with Marquette (27-6) in Minneapolis, Minn. The other matchup features Liberty (25-7) and host and No. 8 seed Minnesota (24-7)
The Bluejays are 1-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, with a victory over Iowa State in 2010 in Minneapolis, Minn.
UNI (24-9) is making its 18th overall NCAA appearance and seventh consecutive season in the NCAA postseason tournament. The Panthers will take on the Kansas State Wildcats (21-8), in a first-round match in Lincoln, Neb. Other teams in the pod include Maryland Eastern Shore (28-5) and host and No. 4 seed Nebraska.
The Panthers are 13-17 all-time in the NCAA tournament and have advanced to the Sweet 16 on three occasions, most recently in 2002. Last season, UNI defeated Niagara (3-0), before falling to Florida (3-1) in the second round.
Wichita State will make its sixth consecutive and seventh overall NCAA appearance, earning an at-large selection after another 20-win season (22-9). The Shockers will open play in Lawrence, Kan., against Arkansas (22-9). The No. 11 national seed Kansas (25-6) will host Cleveland State (23-6) in the other match in Lawrence.
Wichita State is 4-6 all-time in the NCAA tournament. Last season, the Shockers fell in a first round matchup against Kansas State (3-0) in Lincoln, Neb.
