Horizon League announces bracket for 2006 Volleyball Championship

Nov. 13, 2006

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INDIANAPOLIS -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is the number-one seed in the 2006 Horizon League Volleyball Championship, which will be held this Friday through Sunday, Nov. 17-19, the League office announced Monday (Nov. 13).

            Tournament action begins on Friday, November 17, at C.J. McLin Gymnasium on the campus of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, with a match-up between third-seeded Cleveland State University (18-8 overall, 8-6 in League play) and sixth-seeded Loyola University of Chicago (14-15, 7-7) at 11:30 a.m. ET.  The teams split regular-season contests with both squads grabbing home victories. 

            The second-seeded Flames from the University of Illinois at Chicago (15-16, 8-6) will then take on seventh-seeded Butler University (8-21, 3-11) at 2:00 p.m. ET.  UIC won both contests between the two teams this season, including a sweep in Chicago on Sept. 22 and a 3-1 victory on Oct. 21.

            The third match of the day has top-seeded UW-Milwaukee taking on eighth seeded Youngstown State (10-21, 1-13) at 5:00 p.m. ET.  The Panthers claimed both matches with the Penguins this season, while also taking their fourth-straight regular season title. 

            Fourth-seeded Univeristy of Wisconsin-Green Bay (14-14, 8-6) will match up with tournament host and fifth-seeded Wright State (14-16, 8-6) in Friday's final match at 7:30 p.m. ET.  The Phoenix won both contests with the Raiders this season, a 3-1 showing at home on Oct. 24 and a sweep this past Friday in Dayton.    

            The semifinals will kick off on Saturday with the first match scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. ET.  The second semifinal is then slated to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET.

            The championship match is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the winner earning the Horizon League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will be begin Nov. 30 at campus sites. The 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will take place at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on Dec. 14 and 16.

            The Horizon League Network (HLN) will provide full coverage of the Championships with a live video web cast.  Fans can take part in the Championship and cheer on their favorite team by visiting our website at www.horizonleague.org.

2006 Horizon League Volleyball Championship Schedule

First Round- Friday, Nov. 17

Match 1:  No. 3 Cleveland State (18-8, 8-6) vs. No. 6 Loyola (14-15, 7-7), 11:30 a.m. ET

Match 2:  No. 2 UIC (15-16, 8-6) vs. No. 7 Butler (8-21, 3-11), 2:00 p.m. ET

Match 3:  No. 1 UW-Milwaukee (21-5, 13-1) vs. No. 8 Youngstown State (10-21, 1-13), 5:00 p.m. ET

Match 4:  No. 4 UW-Green Bay (14-14, 8-6) vs. No. 5 Wright State (14-16, 8-6), 7:30 p.m. ET         

Semifinals- Saturday, Nov. 18

Match 5:  Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2, 2:30 p.m. ET   

Match 6:  Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4, 5:00 p.m. ET

Championship- Sunday, Nov. 19

Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6, 2:30 p.m. ET