TOURNAMENT BRACKETROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's women's volleyball team was a surprise selection to the NCAA Division III Tournament that begins this week.
The Golden Flyers (26-11) finished the regular season with three straight losses, including a tough, five-game loss to RIT in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament last Saturday. Despite the disappointing finish, Nazareth will be making its second straight NCAA appearance and its sixth in the last eight years.
"It's surprising because of the way that we finished," said Nazareth Coach Cal Wickens, "but we did have some pretty good out-of-conference wins."
Nazareth will participate in an eight-team regional that will be hosted by Empire 8 Conference champion Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. The Golden Flyers will play Montclair State (22-14) in Thursday's first round at 3:30 p.m. If successful there, Nazareth would play again Friday against the winner of Thursday's match between Cortland (31-10) and Russell Sage (18-16).
On the other side of the regional bracket, Stevens (33-4) plays Bridgewater State (17-18) and Skidmore (29-9) plays Hunter (23-11).
Nazareth most likely benefited from non-conference wins over Skidmore, Cortland (twice) and Williams, all of whom are part of the 61-team field.
Nazareth made the tournament in 2006 after gaining an automatic berth by winning the Empire 8 Tournament. The Golden Flyers lost to Calvin, Mich. in the first round.
"It's exciting for us," Wickens said. "It's always nice to be included in the national tournament."