FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2006

Lions make NCAA Tournament as 6th seed in South Central Region

Joplin, Mo. -- For the first time in school history, the Missouri Southern volleyball team will be competing in the NCAA Tournament when the Lions travel to Truman State for the South Central Region Tournament next week, facing off with MIAA foe Central Missouri.

The Lions finished 23-11 this year, the second most wins in school history since joining the MIAA and Division II. They were third in the MIAA West and faced Central Missouri in the first round of the 2006 MIAA Tournament, where the Jennies defeated Southern three games to none.

Truman is the No. 1 team in the country and the No. 1 seed in the region. They will face No. 8 seed Albany State, the champion of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Washburn is the No. 2 seed and will face off with West Florida, while North Alabama, the Gulf South Conference (GSC) champ will take on No. 5 seed Pittsburg State.

All matches will be played on the campus of Truman State, on November 9-11with times to be announced tomorrow afternoon.

"This has been a goal from the very beginning that the players set and something they worked hard after to achieve, especially the seniors," said head coach Chris Willis. "This is something every program strives for. I think it's tremendous for the MIAA getting five teams in. It shows the strength of the conference and that it's once again one of the top leagues in the country. This program is striving to improve the league and now we can say we're contributing to that. I'm just thrilled to still be playing."

Announcements of times will be made Monday afternoon. Please check back for details.