Oilers Qualify for NCAA Tourney, No. 2 Seed in Midwest

The University of Findlay volleyball team will be making their second straight trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and will be the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region. They will be participating in the national tournament for the fifth time since joining the NCAA Division II ranks during the 2000 campaign.

The Oilers will face No. 7 Cedarville in the opening round of the tournament, which will be held on Dec. 1-3 in Big Rapids, Mich. The Oilers went 1-1 against the Yellow Jackets this season as each team claimed a victory on their home floor.

Senior outside hitter Hannah Tong has led the Oilers this season and was voted first team all-conference and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Attacker of the Year. She was joined on the first team by red-shirt junior middle blocker Nickyla Garverick. Sophomore setter Hailee Olson and sophomore outside hitter Amanda Winner earned second team all-league honors while sophomore defensive specialist Kara Scherger was voted honorable mention all-conference.

Findlay reached the round of 32 last season by defeating Hillsdale 3-1 in the opening round. They then had their season come to a close in the second round with a 3-1 loss to the host school, Ferris State.

The first time Findlay made the NCAA national tournament was 2000, coach Wick Colchagoff's third year at the helm. In that season the Oilers lost in the second round to Northwood University. They returned to the tournament in 2001 and reached the round of 32 before falling to Grand Valley State in the second round. They also qualified in 2003, but fell to Northern Kentucky in the first round.

The NCAA Division II Elite Eight will take place on Dec. 8-10 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

NCAA Division II Midwest Regional

1. Ferris State – 28-5
2. Findlay – 21-9
3. Lewis – 25-7
4. Rockhurst – 27-6
5. Saginaw Valley State – 19-11
6. Ashland – 23-10
7. Cedarville – 26-8
8. Truman State – 18-16