May 7, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - One of the most anticipated seasons in Colorado State volleyball history just got even more exciting. Moby Arena on Wednesday was awarded one of four regionals in the 2008 NCAA tournament, the Division I Women's Volleyball Committee announced.

"This is a tremendous privilege for not only our campus, but for our city and region," said Director of Athletics Paul Kowalczyk. "It's also a reflection on Tom Hilbert and what he's accomplished in taking his program to national prominence."

The regional will take place Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13. It will involve the four best teams from Colorado State's region, if the Rams are fortunate to earn a tournament berth. CSU has gone to the NCAA tournament 13 consecutive years, the most successful postseason streak in the university's athletic history. Last season, three of the four teams selected to host - Stanford, 2008 CSU opponent Florida, and eventual national champion Penn State - advanced to play in their own regionals.

"This is another indication that the national volleyball community recognizes Colorado State and the Fort Collins community for creating one of the best volleyball environments in the nation," said Hilbert, whose Rams were 14-0 at home last season and enter 2008 156-21 in Moby Arena under the coach's guidance. "Our program is consistently strong and we have an educated audience. The people here in Northern Colorado love their volleyball and our players love to compete. Now we get a chance to prove it on a national stage."

Three matches will make up the Moby Arena regional, two on Dec. 12 and the regional championship on Dec. 13, the winner of which will advance to the Division I Final Four, hosted by the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

This will mark the first time in program history that Colorado State has hosted a volleyball regional, but it won't be the only regional the university hosts in 2008. Colorado State and Fort Collins also will host this fall's NCAA cross country regional.

In addition to Colorado State and Moby Arena, the NCAA on Wednesday also awarded regionals to Penn State, Texas and Washington. Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska and Stanford will host regionals in 2009.

"When we were selecting these sites we really wanted to focus on attendance history and attendance potential," said Marie Robbins, the chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee. "We believe these sites provide a regional balance that can also draw great crowds. They have proven to be great hosts in the past, and we know they will step up to the plate in hosting these regionals so we can continue to grow this championship."