Nov. 16, 2005

PLANO, Texas - For the first time in Southland Conference history, video streaming of postseason tournaments will be available for alumni, supporters, family members and friends from all across the nation. This first time opportunity is just $6.99 as the 2005 Southland Volleyball Tournament gets underway on Friday, Nov. 18 at 12 p.m.

Watch eight of the top 11 teams in the league battle for the ticket to compete in the 2005 NCAA Championship.

The entire tournament will be video streamed via the internet and the Southland Conference web site at www.southland.org. Let SLC volleyball be the first to bring live tournament action into your home or work place as all seven exciting and competitive matches will be broadcast.

Headlining the 2005 Southland Volleyball Tournament field is top seed and undefeated Stephen F. Austin. SFA, who is ranked eighth in the Central Region, became the first program since Texas State in 2000 to march through the conference slate untouched. The Ladyjacks went 19-0 in SLC action and enter the tournament with an overall record of 27-2. Texas State completed the 2000 SLC schedule with a 20-0 record. Stephen F. Austin, winners of five regular season titles, is five wins shy of tying its conference record for most wins in a single season with 32.

After splitting its matches over the weekend, Sam Houston State finished second in the Southland Conference race, its highest finish since 1996, to earn a No. 2 seed. The Bearkats produced an SLC mark of 14-5 and own an overall record of 16-12.

Texas State and Texas-San Antonio produced identical 12-6 records but UTSA won the tie-breaker to earn the No. 3 seed. The two teams split regular season matches, but UTSA owns a 4-3 advantage in games won. The defending Southland Tournament champions, the Bobcats, will be the fourth seed, while McNeese State (10-6) and Northwestern State (9-9) will be the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively.

NSU won its last two matches in extra games to earn the sixth seed. McNeese State finished the regular season winners of three of its last four matches.

Earning the final two slots in the expanded SLC Tournament is seventh-seed Louisiana-Monroe (8-10) and eighth-seed Lamar (6-10). Both teams qualified for postseason action due to the conference expanding this year's tournament field from six teams to eight due to the fact that some teams had matches canceled as a result of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

2005 Southland Volleyball Tournament Schedule
Friday, Nov. 18 - First Round
Match 1: No. 3 Texas-San Antonio vs. No. 6 Northwestern State, 12 p.m.
Match 2: No. 2 Sam Houston State vs. No. 7 Louisiana-Monroe, 2:30 p.m.
Match 3: No. 4 Texas State vs. No. 5 McNeese State, 5 p.m.
Match 4: No. 1 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 8 Lamar, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19 - Semifinals
Match 5: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Match 6: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 20 - Championship
Match 7: Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner, 4 p.m.