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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University volleyball team (28-2) will host the NSIC/US Bank Volleyball Tournament this weekend as the final four teams battle for an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Regional Tournament.
With Concordia currently holding the No. 2 ranking in the NCAA Central Region Rankings, it could be Twin Cities volleyball fans' last chance to see the six-time defending NCAA Champions on their home court. The top ranking in the region currently belongs to Central Missouri (Warrensburg).
With the tournament champion earning the NSIC's automatic bid to the NCAA regional, the remaining at-large teams are announced on the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, November 25 at 6:30 p.m. on
NCAA.com where the tournament host site is also revealed.
The tournament play this weekend kicks off with the second-seed #2 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (29-2) and the sixth-seed #18 Wayne State Warriors (22-9) matching up at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The top-seed #3 Golden Bears take on the fifth-seed #22 Northern State Wolves (22-6) in the second match of the day at 3:30 p.m. The championship match will take place on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
|
Ticket Prices |
Single Game |
Weekend Pass* |
|
Adults |
$10 |
$15 |
|
Seniors |
$8 |
$10 |
|
Students |
$2 |
$4 |
* - weekend passes will be available at the front desk of the Gangelhoff Center
* - first 100 Concordia students with an ID get in free each day
Concordia holds a 13-2 overall record in five trips to the NSIC/US Bank Tournament and has claimed the title three times. Their last tournament crown came back in 2006, their third consecutive season winning it. In 2007, Wayne State claimed the title after the top-seeded Golden Bears were upended by MSU Moorhead in the semifinals. Last season, in the first conference tournament since 2007 the #2 SMSU Mustangs defeated #1 CU in St. Paul in a five set thriller.
The last time these two teams met in the NSIC/US Bank Tournament came last season in the semifinals as the Golden Bears ended Northern State's season. Kayla Koenecke just missed a double-double with nine kills and 13 digs for Concordia and Kelsey Chambers had a team leading 11 kills for the Wolves.
Northern State has gone 3-6 in the NSIC/US Bank Tournament in their five trips. NSU knocked off Wayne State in the first round last year prior to being swept by the Golden Bears.
Minnesota Duluth made their first trip to the conference tournament last season after rejoining the NSIC in 2008 and went 1-1. The Bulldogs won their opening round match against Winona State 3-0 before being swept by SMSU in the semifinals.
Wayne State has a 6-4 mark in the conference tournament, including winning it back in 2007. Wayne State lost to Northern State in the first round last year.
