Yellowjacket Volleyball Ranked Fifth in Region (10/7/05)

BILLINGS, MT – For the first time in the program’s history, the Montana State-Billings volleyball team is ranked in the NCAA weekly regional poll.  The Yellowjackets, currently 17-4 overall, are ranked fifth in the NCAA Southwest Region.  The top eight teams in each of the eight NCAA Division II regions qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

MSU Billings recently completed a four-match conference road swing, going 4-0 with two wins at Dallas Baptist and two at Oklahoma Panhandle State.  The Yellowjackets are currently fourth in the Heartland Conference standings with a 6-2 record, but some of the teams ahead of them had matches cancelled due to Hurricane Rita.  Incarnate Word sits in first place in the conference standings, but the Cardinals have just a 2-0 record.

Nebraska-Kearney, a perennial national power, is the top ranked team in this week’s first Southwest Region poll.  MSU Billings is the highest ranked team from the Heartland Conference at No. 5.  Western New Mexico, which is a half game ahead of the Yellowjackets in the conference standings, is ranked seventh.

The Yellowjackets are idle this week.  They return to action October 21-22 when they travel to St. Edward’s University in Austin.  St. Edward’s is the defending conference champion. 

NCAA Southwest Region Top 10
1. Nebraska-Kearney
2. Metro State (CO)
3. Abilene Christian (TX)
4. Mesa State (CO)
5. Montana State-Billings
6. Fort Hays State (KS)
7. Western New Mexico
8. West Texas A&M
9. Central Oklahoma
10. Cameron (OK)