ESU volleyball earns tough draw in tourney
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Monday, October 30, 2006
It’s hard to imagine a tougher road for the Emporia State volleyball team as it looks to earn an NCAA tournament appearance.
Needing one victory to potentially qualify for a postseason berth, ESU will face 32-1 and No. 1-ranked nationally Truman in the first round of the conference tournament on Tuesday. The match will be played at 7 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo.
Entering with a 15-15 record, the Hornets need one more victory to guarantee at least a .500 record during the regular season — which is one requirement of NCAA tournament teams. The other requirement is finishing in the top five of the regional rankings after three automatic berths from conference champions are given. In the last poll, ESU was ranked seventh, putting the team squarely on the NCAA bubble.
ESU gained the No. 4 seed in the Western Division of the conference, following Washburn, Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
The semifinals will continue Friday at the site of the highest remaining West seed.