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Volleyball Headed to 2016 NCAA Volleyball Tournament
11/27/2016 8:44 PM | Volleyball
Utes will face UNLV in opening round in Provo
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Volleyball team will make its 13th NCAA Championship appearance this week and will face the UNLV Rebels in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament following the announcement of the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show Sunday evening.
The Utes (20-11) and UNLV (23-7) will face each other at 5 p.m. (MST) this Friday, Dec. 2, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah. On the other side of the bracket, BYU (27-3), who earned the No. 13 overall seed and the right to host the sub-regional, will face Princeton (19-4) at 7 p.m. (MST), with the winners of each match set to face each other in the second round at 7 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, Dec. 3, for the right to head to the NCAA Regional. Regional matches are scheduled for Dec. 9-10. For a complete NCAA Championships Bracket, visit NCAA.com.
"We do not know much about UNLV," said head coach Beth Launiere. "I know that they had a very good season, a very good RPI ranking and they play in the Mountain West, which we know is a very tremendous conference. We are really happy to be back in the tournament.
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"We knew that there was a chance we would be going to play at BYU in the first two rounds. We know that court very well and I do not think it hurts at all. I think it is very exciting for our fans. This will be an easier way to follow us to the tournament. I am very happy for our fans and hope they can make the trip down in what should be a very exciting tournament."
Utah finished the regular season 20-11 overall and tied for fifth-place in the Pac-12 Conference with a mark of 11-9 in league play. The Utes won 20 matches for a third time in the past four seasons and for the 21st time overall.Â
Friday's match-up with UNLV will mark the 34th time that Utah has faced the Rebels overall, but the first time to match-up against the Rebels in the NCAA Tournament. Utah leads the all-time series 29-4, but the two teams have not faced each other since 2010. The Utes are 2-0 all-time when facing the Rebels on a neutral court.
The Utes are 12-12 all-time in the NCAA tournament. Utah defeated Kansas State in the first round back in 2014 before falling to Nebraska in the second round. All 13 of Utah's NCAA tournament appearances have come under the direction of Launiere.
For more information on the Utah volleyball team, a complete schedule and first/second round ticket information, visit UtahUtes.com and follow @UtahVolleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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2016 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3
Smith Fieldhouse | Provo, Utah
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FIRST ROUND | Friday, Dec. 2
Match 1: Utah (20-11) vs. UNLV (23-7) | 5 p.m. MT
Match 2: BYU (27-3) vs. Princeton (19-4) | 7 p.m. MT
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SECOND ROUND | Saturday, Dec. 3
Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2 | 7 p.m. MT
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The Utes (20-11) and UNLV (23-7) will face each other at 5 p.m. (MST) this Friday, Dec. 2, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah. On the other side of the bracket, BYU (27-3), who earned the No. 13 overall seed and the right to host the sub-regional, will face Princeton (19-4) at 7 p.m. (MST), with the winners of each match set to face each other in the second round at 7 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, Dec. 3, for the right to head to the NCAA Regional. Regional matches are scheduled for Dec. 9-10. For a complete NCAA Championships Bracket, visit NCAA.com.
"We do not know much about UNLV," said head coach Beth Launiere. "I know that they had a very good season, a very good RPI ranking and they play in the Mountain West, which we know is a very tremendous conference. We are really happy to be back in the tournament.
Â
"We knew that there was a chance we would be going to play at BYU in the first two rounds. We know that court very well and I do not think it hurts at all. I think it is very exciting for our fans. This will be an easier way to follow us to the tournament. I am very happy for our fans and hope they can make the trip down in what should be a very exciting tournament."
Provo here we come! Utes selected to 13th NCAA Tournament! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/jtOk5pm4X4
— Utah Volleyball (@UtahVolleyball) November 28, 2016
Utah finished the regular season 20-11 overall and tied for fifth-place in the Pac-12 Conference with a mark of 11-9 in league play. The Utes won 20 matches for a third time in the past four seasons and for the 21st time overall.Â
Friday's match-up with UNLV will mark the 34th time that Utah has faced the Rebels overall, but the first time to match-up against the Rebels in the NCAA Tournament. Utah leads the all-time series 29-4, but the two teams have not faced each other since 2010. The Utes are 2-0 all-time when facing the Rebels on a neutral court.
The Utes are 12-12 all-time in the NCAA tournament. Utah defeated Kansas State in the first round back in 2014 before falling to Nebraska in the second round. All 13 of Utah's NCAA tournament appearances have come under the direction of Launiere.
For more information on the Utah volleyball team, a complete schedule and first/second round ticket information, visit UtahUtes.com and follow @UtahVolleyball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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2016 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3
Smith Fieldhouse | Provo, Utah
Â
FIRST ROUND | Friday, Dec. 2
Match 1: Utah (20-11) vs. UNLV (23-7) | 5 p.m. MT
Match 2: BYU (27-3) vs. Princeton (19-4) | 7 p.m. MT
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SECOND ROUND | Saturday, Dec. 3
Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2 | 7 p.m. MT
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