INDIANAPOLIS–Five teams from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will participate in the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point secured four of the 21 at-large bids into the 64-team field, while UW-Whitewater earned an automatic bid after winning the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The five entries match a conference-high from the 2007 campaign when UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater participated in the national event.
UW-Whitewater (26-3) will host an eight-team regional and open against Ohio Wesleyan University (16-12). The Warhawks are making their 35th NCAA appearance. UW-Eau Claire (20-8) and UW-Platteville (25-6) will also compete in the Whitewater Regional. The Blugolds – in their 21st NCAA event – will face University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.) (24-8) in the first round. The Pioneers (25-6) will meet Edgewood College (Wis.) (24-9) in the opening round. UW-Platteville is making its first NCAA appearance since 2010 and eighth overall. The regional also features Washington University in St. Louis (28-6) and College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) (15-11).
UW-Oshkosh (26-5) will travel to Marietta, Ohio, for regional action and face Marymount University (Va.) (12-21) in the first round. The Titans are making their 20th NCAA appearance and advanced to the Elite Eight a season ago. The regional will include the host institution Marietta College (23-1), University of Chicago (Ill.) (24-10), Centre College (Ky.) (22-6), Franklin & Marshall College (Pa.) (23-6), Illinois Wesleyan University (22-9) and St. John Fisher University (N.Y.) (21-8).
UW-Stevens Point (19-11) will head to Holland, Mich., for regional competition and play Otterbein University (Ohio) (21-8) in the first round. The Pointers are making their 13th NCAA appearance. The regional will include the host institution Hope College (Mich.) (25-2), Greenville University (Ill.) (21-9), Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) (24-7), University of Dubuque (Iowa) (23-9), Millikin University (Ill.) (29-5) and Cornell College (Iowa) (19-11).
Regional action will be held Nov. 21-23, and the eight regional winners will advance to the national quarterfinals, semifinals and championship at the Cregger Center in Salem, Va, Dec. 4-7.
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