SFA Draws Fifth-Ranked Texas in Opening Round of NCAA Tournament
11/25/2018 8:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Ladyjacks will head to Austin to take on Longhorns
2018 NCAA Volleyball Tournament Central | Tickets
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Sunday night with a packed house of well-wishers joining it inside Bottlecap Alley, the SFA volleyball team learned where it is headed and who it will be playing in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Thursday night at 7:00 p.m., the Ladyjacks will begin their first NCAA Tournament run in 12 years by facing off against fifth-ranked Texas inside Gregory Gymnasium. That's the exact location where the Ladyjacks captured the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory - a 3-2 triumph over Alabama in the opening round of the 2006 tournament.
"This is a wonderful opportunity," commented SFA head coach Debbie Humphreys upon learning the Ladyjacks would take on the Longhorns in the opening round. "The last time we were in the NCAA Tournament. For us it's about going out, playing great volleyball and just seeing how we mach up with a team of that caliber."
Thursday night's upcoming matchup against Texas will be the third battle between the Ladyjacks and Longhorns in program history. Both of the previous meetings between the two programs came in the NCAA Tournament as well (1997 and 2006).
"All of us are extremely appreciative of the fans who came tonight to support us," Humphreys continued. "We have had incredible support all year long and for this place to be packed like this tonight just speaks volumes to SFA and the community and how intertwined we are. This team is very blessed to have fans like we have here and the fun is just beginning."
SFA is in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history. The Ladyjacks are riding a nation-leading 29-match winning streak that also stands as the longest winning streak in program history. Thanks to that winning streak, SFA leads the nation in wins (32) and has tied a program record for wins in a single season.
2018 marks the fifth time in program history that the Ladyjacks will play in the NCAA Tournament. Previously, SFA reached the big dance in 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2006.
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