Eagle Volleyball to Face Florida State in First Round of NCAA Tournament
11/29/2010 12:13:00 AM | Volleyball
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern volleyball team will travel to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend to face Florida State in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida.
The Eagles, having earned the Southern Conference's automatic bid to the postseason with a win over College of Charleston in the championship match of the SoCon Tournament, will square off with the Seminoles on Friday. Match time is set for 5 p.m.
“This has been an exciting week for Georgia Southern volleyball,” said Georgia Southern volleyball head coach Chad Callihan. “In the last week we have won the SoCon championship, enjoyed Thanksgiving, been recognized on the field at football and it has culminated with a great selection show party. We are excited to represent GSU and the Southern Conference and are equally excited to open the tournament against Florida State.”
Georgia Southern (27-8, 14-2 SoCon) and Florida State (21-10, 12-8 ACC) have met twice, with the Seminoles owning a 2-0 series lead. In 1990, FSU swept the Eagles 3-0 (15-2, 15-1, 15-7) and repeated in 1997 with a 3-0 (15-5, 15-0, 15-3) victory. Both previous meetings took place in Tallahassee.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for the FSU program and what Coach [Chris] Poole and his staff have done during their tenure in Tallahassee,” Callihan noted. “They are a very good team, but that is to be expected if you are still playing at this point in the season.”
The Eagles hold a 1-3 record in the O'Connell Center, with a neutral site victory over NC State [3-1 (30-24, 25-30, 30-25, 30-19)] in the final match of the 2007 Campus USA Credit Union Invitational.
“Playing in the O' Dome will be a great opportunity for our team,” added Callihan. “Gainesville is home to some of the best volleyball fans in the country and I fully anticipate a great crowd on Friday.”
This weekend's match will mark the third trip to the NCAAs. Last time the Eagles reached the NCAA postseason was in 2003 when GSU dropped a 3-0 decision to Regional host Florida. Previously, Georgia Southern faced Pepperdine in Chapel Hill, N.C., falling 3-0.
The winner of Friday's match between the Eagles and Seminoles will face the winner of No. 1 Florida vs. South Carolina State on Saturday in the second round. Fans can find information about the 2010 NCAA Volleyball Tournament here. A full preview of Friday's match will be available later this week.
NCAA Tournament (0-2)
11/29/2001 vs. Pepperdine L, 3-0 (30-21, 30-22, 30-22) in Chapel Hill, N.C.
12/4/2003 vs. Florida L, 3-0 (30-18, 30-18, 30-21) in Gainesville, Fla.
vs. Florida State (0-2)
9/10/1997 L, 3-0 (15-5, 15-0, 15-3) in Tallahassee, Fla.
9/16/1990 L, 3-0 (15-2, 15-1, 15-7) in Tallahassee, Fla.
Playing in Gainesville's O'Connell Center (1-3)
NCAA Regionals
12/4/2003 vs. Florida L, 3-0 (30-18, 30-18, 30-21)
Campus USA Credit Union Invitational
8/31/2007 vs. Florida L, 3-0 (30-16, 30-25, 30-19)
8/31/2007 vs. Santa Clara L, 3-0 (30-14, 30-14, 30-13)
9/1/2007 vs. NC State W, 3-1 (30-24, 25-30, 30-25, 30-19)
