Arkansas Tech advanced one position to No. 7 in the second NCAA Division II South Central Region volleyball rankings of the season, which were released by the NCAA on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
The Golden Suns (30-3 overall, 14-0 Great American Conference) are in pursuit of just the second NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament berth in school history. Arkansas Tech’s only appearance in that event came in 2000, when the Golden Suns finished with an overall record of 36-5.
Here are this week’s NCAA Division II South Central Region volleyball rankings:
1. Washburn (25-1)
2. Central Missouri (21-4)
3. West Texas A&M (27-2)
4. Angelo State (26-3)
5. St. Edward’s (17-9)
6. Arkansas-Fort Smith (23-7)
7. Arkansas Tech (30-3)
8. Emporia State (17-8)
9. Truman State (17-11)
10. Abilene Christian (17-12)
Eight teams will be invited to participate in the 2011 NCAA Division II Tournament South Central Regional during the third weekend in November.
The conference champions from the the Heartland Conference, the Lone Star Conference and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association will earn automatic bids.
Because the Great American Conference — the league that Arkansas Tech began competing in this fall — is a new NCAA Division II conference, its champion will not receive an automatic bid this year. However, GAC teams are eligible for at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament.
At-large selections are based on such factors as head-to-head competition, in-region results and in-region strength of schedule. Five at-large selections will be made for the 2011 NCAA Division II Tournament South Central Regional.
As Arkansas Tech continues to chase one of those five at-large berths, it has the advantage of playing all of its remaining matches at home.
The Golden Suns will host Southeastern Oklahoma State (14-16, 10-4) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, and Southwestern Oklahoma State (9-15, 5-9) at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, in their final two regular season matches of the 2011 campaign.
Both of those matches will be played at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. No admission will be charged.
Arkansas Tech will stay at home to host the 2011 GAC Volleyball Tournament on Nov. 11-12. The Golden Suns will open that event by taking on the No. 8 seed at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11.
Click here to learn more about Arkansas Tech volleyball.
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