Arkansas Tech University has been seeded eighth in the 2017 NCAA Division II Tournament Central Regional for volleyball.
The Golden Suns (35-0) will face No. 1 seed and regional host Southwest Minnesota State University (28-3) in a first-round match on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the SMSU Physical Education Gymnasium in Marshall, Minn. First serve is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Arkansas Tech is ranked No. 8 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II top 25 national poll, owns the longest active winning streak at any level of NCAA volleyball and is one of two unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II volleyball this season.
The other unbeaten team, California Baptist University (28-0), is the No. 1 seed and host for the NCAA Division II Tournament West Regional.
The Golden Suns are regular season and postseason tournament champions of the Great American Conference. Tech is making its fifth NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in volleyball. ATU previously qualified for NCAA national postseason volleyball competition in 2000, 2011, 2013, and 2014.
Southwest Minnesota State is ranked No. 2 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II top 25 national poll. The Mustangs are making their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament overall. SMSU is hosting an NCAA volleyball regional for the second time. They previously welcomed the event to Marshall, Minn., in 2010.
SMSU was regular season runner-up and postseason tournament champion in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The NCAA Division II Tournament Central Regional will continue with semifinal matches on Friday, Dec. 1, and the championship match on Saturday, Dec. 2. The regional champion will be among eight teams that will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament national quarterfinals on Dec. 7 in Pensacola, Fla.
