May 8, 2008
University Park, Pa. - For the second consecutive year, Penn State University and Rec Hall have been chosen as one of four host sites for the 2008 NCAA Women's Volleyball Regional Championship, to be held Dec. 12-13, the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee announced. Penn State joins Moby Arena and Colorado State University, Gregory Gymnasium and the University of Texas and the Bank of America Arena and the University of Washington as the four pre-determined sites. The Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., will be the site of the 2008 NCAA National Championship semifinals and final on Dec. 18 and 20.
"When we were selecting these sites we really wanted to focus on attendance history and attendance potential," said Marie Robbins, chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee. "We believe these sites provide a regional balance that can also draw great crowds. They have proven to be great hosts in the past and we know they will step up to the plate in hosting these regionals so we can continue to grow this championship."
The defending national champion Nittany Lions have hosted at least one round of the NCAA Tournament in 22 of the possible 28 years, including the last 19 consecutive seasons. Penn State has played 39 NCAA matches at Rec Hall since 1981, boasting a 36- 3 record in those contests. The Nittany Lions and Rec Hall hosted the Regional Championships last year and also were home to the event in 2005, 1999, 1998 and 1997.
"Penn State is very honored to be chosen for the second consecutive year to host the NCAA Women's Volleyball Regionals," said Tim Curley, Penn State Director of Athletics. "As is evidenced by two national championships this year in volleyball, Penn State has a very strong tradition of excellence in the sport and we are very excited to showcase this once again. Our staff knows what it takes to run a high-caliber event for both the student-athletes and the fans, and I have the greatest confidence that Penn State will again put on a great event that will highlight the outstanding level of volleyball that I know will be played."
Penn State is one of only two teams - with the other being Stanford - to participate in all 27 NCAA Tournaments since its inception in 1981. The Nittany Lions hold a 54-25 all-time NCAA Tournament record, including six trips to the NCAA National Semifinals and two National Championships (1999, 2007). Penn State also became only the second school in NCAA history (joining Stanford in 1996-97) to have its women's and men's team capture a volleyball National Championship in the same academic year as the Nittany Lion men defeated Pepperdine on May 3 for their title.
"We're very appreciative that the University again put in a bid to host this tournament," said head coach Russ Rose, last year's AVCA National Coach of the Year, who has compiled an overall record of 925-159 in his 29 seasons at the helm of the Nittany Lion program. "We hope to continue to have the great following and support from the fans that we did last year during the regular season and throughout the NCAA Championship."
The five-time defending Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions finished the 2007 slate with an overall record of 34-2 after defeating Stanford in five games to capture the program's second National Championship title. Penn State returns all seven starters from last year's championship squad, including AVCA First Team All-Americans Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.) and Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), AVCA Second Team All-American setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), Big Ten Freshman of the Year Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) along with Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) and Roberta Holehouse (Joppa, Md.).
Ticket information will be sent with women's volleyball season ticket applications and the NCAA Regional on-sale date and ticket prices are pending.
Sites for the 2009 NCAA Regional Championships were also announced and include the O'Connell Center and the University of Florida, the Sports Pavilion and the University of Minnesota, the Qwest Center Omaha and the University of Nebraska and Maples Pavilion and Stanford University, and will be played Dec. 11-12. The 2009 NCAA National Championship semifinals and final are slated for the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., and will be played Dec. 17 and 19.
For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.