Michigan to Host First and Second Rounds of NCAA Tournament
11/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the first time in program history, the University of Michigan volleyball team will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The matches will be held in Crisler Arena Friday and Saturday (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).
The Wolverines earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in the last nine seasons. U-M will face Miami (Ohio) Friday (Nov. 30) at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the tournament. If the Wolverines prevail, they will face the winner of Illinois State and Colorado State, who will meet Friday at 5:30 p.m. The winner of the second-round match, which is scheduled for Saturday (Dec. 1) at 7 p.m., earns a berth in the State College, Pa., regional.
All-session tickets good for admission both days are $10 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Only all-session tickets are available in advance. Individual tickets will not go on sale until 4:30 p.m. on Friday when the doors open. Single-match tickets are available for $6 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Children under two are free with a paying adult. All tickets will be general admission and can be purchased in advance by calling 734-764-0247 or 1-866-296-MTIX.
The Wolverines faced Miami (Ohio) earlier this season (Aug. 31), defeating the RedHawks 3-0 (30-23, 30-22, 30-28) at the Miami University Invitational. Michigan has not lost to Miami since 1984, winning each of the last four meetings. The RedHawks won the MAC championship, beating nationally ranked Ohio in the tournament finale to finish 20-10.
Michigan knocked off No. 14 seed Colorado State on Aug. 26 at the ASICS Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Hawaii, beating the Rams in four games (25-30, 30-24, 30-25, 30-22). The meeting was the first between the two programs. Colorado State finished the season 22-7 as the regular-season champion of the Mountain West Conference, falling to Utah in the conference tournament semifinals.
Michigan defeated Illinois State in 2005 at Cliff Keen Arena and has not lost to the Redbirds in three meetings. Illinois State finished the season 21-11, losing to Northern Iowa in the finale of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Michigan is coming off a record season under head coach Mark Rosen, posting a 22-10 record and finishing with a 10-10 Big Ten mark and a share of fifth place in the final conference standings. U-M's 22 wins are the most under Rosen and mark the best Maize and Blue win total in 26 seasons, since the 1981 Wolverines earned a program-best 40 victories. The Wolverines have been ranked or received votes in the polls the entire campaign, peaking at No. 10 in the nation for two weeks (Sept. 10-24) after beginning the season with a record-tying 13-0 mark.
The Wolverines earned berths in the 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006 NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the second round four times. Last season, U-M traveled to San Luis Obispo, Calif., for the first and second rounds and lost to host No. 14 Cal Poly.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Mark Rosen
On hosting the first and second rounds at Crisler Arena... "We are very excited for our program and for all the fans that have supported us for all these years. We have set this as one of our goals since the 2006 season and our team is excited and ready to play. We've had some great crowds in Cliff Keen Arena this year, and we'd love to carry that over to Crisler Arena. We would love a lot of fan support for the tournament to give us a big home court advantage. We want to fill Crisler Arena this Friday."
On Miami (Ohio)... "We saw Miami earlier in the year in their preseason tournament and we played well against them. It was the preseason though, and both teams are a lot different now. Miami is a tough team and they will play very hard against us. Miami is playing very well and they beat a nationally ranked Ohio program in their conference tournament so they will be a tough test for us."
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
