Bowling Green, Ky. The WKU volleyball team (26-9) will take on Cincinnati (26-6) in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. CST in Champaign, Ill. The Lady Toppers, who have won 12 consecutive matches, will face the Big East regular season champions for a spot in the second round of the tournament that will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Sun Belt Conference champions will be competing in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in school history. After sweeping Denver, Middle Tennessee and New Orleans in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, the Lady Toppers earned the Sun Belt's automatic bid to the tournament. Cincinnati, who fell in the opening round of the Big East Tournament this season to host Pittsburgh, earned an at-large bid after dropping only two conference matches the entire season.
WKU is 3-11 overall against the Bearcats and fell to the team this year in four sets (17-25, 19-25, 25-20, 23-25) in Bowling Green. The Lady Toppers have not beaten Cincinnati since 2002 when WKU swept the Bearcats at home.
The winner of Friday's match will advance to face the winner of the No.9 Illinois vs. Milwaukee match that will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Fans can purchase all session tickets in person at the University of Illinois Ticket Office or by calling 1-866-Illini-1. Ticket prices are $12 for reserved seats, $10 for general admisison and $6 for students. Single session tickets will also be available on Friday and the price for tickets are $8 for reserved seats, $7 for general admission and $5 for students. Live streaming of all matches will be available on ncaasports.com.
Practices will also be open to the public on Thursay and WKU will practice in Huff Hall from noon-1:30 p.m. Results from the WKU vs. Cincinnati match will be available immediately following the game.
