C-N Volleyball Team Ready To Make First NCAA Appearance Since 2002
Nov. 20, 2008
Video Webcast/Regional Tournament Page
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - When Carson-Newman head volleyball coach Shannon Mincey started putting together the 2008 schedule for the Lady Eagles, she decided to get a little crazy.
For the first four weekends of the season, she had her squad entered in some of the top Division II tournaments in the Southeast, which allowed her team some of the best competition the region had to offer.
"When I handed my team the schedule, they looked at me as if I were crazy," said Mincey. "(I did it) in an attempt to boost our strength of schedule and prepare ourselves for conference play."
At first, it appeared Mincey's plan might backfire.
Carson-Newman went 10-8 through those first four tournaments and began its South Atlantic Conference schedule by dropping three of its first five contests.
Then October arrived, and the Lady Eagles began to find their groove. They ran off 12 wins in 14 matches, with one of those losses coming against eventual conference champion Wingate. Carson-Newman finished second in the final conference standings.
The Lady Eagles were upset by six-seed Lincoln Memorial in the semi-finals of the SAC Tournament, but it didn't matter. Thanks to a momentous finish to the year, and the strong non-conference schedule Mincey compiled, Carson-Newman will be the No. 2 seed in the Southeast Regional of the NCAA Division II Tournament set to get underway this weekend at Wingate University.
This will be Carson-Newman's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2002.
"When we watched the selection show Sunday night, our players exploded with excitement," said Mincey, whose squad is 24-14 overall.
"This will be our 39th match. I have to give my players a lot of credit as they have had to balance this season's rigourous schedule, alongside studying for exams, writing papers, completing practicum hours."
"As a team we set a goal to make it to the regionals and now that we have earned this opportunity I can't wait to share it with these girls whom I consider my sisters," said senior outside hitter Kelsey Fleck.
Carson-Newman's first-round opponent in the national tournament is none other than Lincoln Memorial. The two will square off Friday at 2:30 p.m.
The Lady Eagles swept LMU 3-0 in both regular season matches before the shocker in the conference tournament.
Needless to say, the Carson-Newman players are looking to find more of the early season success they had against the Lady Railsplitters.
"Myself and my players lost a night's worth of sleep thinking about what could have been done to change the outcome," Mincey said of the SAC tournament game.
"We never imagined those thoughts would be put to reality in another face-off the following weekend in the NCAA tournament."
Lincoln Memorial is the No. 7 seed in the Southeast Region. Two other South Atlantic Conference teams are also in the field - No. 1 seed Wingate is the host, while Catawba earned a No. 4 seed.
Wingate will take on No. 8 Anderson at 7:30 p.m. Friday, while Catawba faces No. 5 Francis Marion at 5 p.m. Third-seed Armstrong Atlantic State and No. 6 Lander will play at noon.
Semifinal games will be played Saturday evening, while the Southeast Regional championship match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday.
(Story Courtesy Of Darren Reese - The Standard Banner)
Tournament Information
All matches will take place in Cuddy Arena on Wingate University Campus.Tickets may be purchased at the gate for each session. ($8 for adults, $5 for students, $3 for children 12 years and under) More information and links will be provided later in the week for possible live broadcast and live stats.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Game 1: Noon - #3 Armstrong Atlantic State vs. #6 Lander
Game 2: 2:30 p.m. - #2 Carson-Newman vs. #7 Lincoln Memorial
Game 3: 5 p.m. - #4 Catawba vs. #5 Francis Marion
Game 4: 7:30 p.m. - #1 Wingate vs. #8 Anderson (S.C.)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Semifinal 1: 5 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Semifinal 2: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4
Sunday, November 23, 2008
NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship Match
7 p.m. - Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2
