Kearney, Neb. – For the 11th straight season, the Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team has been selected to play in the 64-team NCAA Division II Tournament.

The 3rd-ranked Lopers (33-2) are the 3rd seed in the Central Region and will face 6th-seed, and 17th-ranked, Minnesota-Duluth (22-8) Thursday in St. Paul, Minn. A time for the match will be announced Monday but it will likely be in the afternoon. For up-to-the minute info on the event, log on to www.cugoldenbears.com

This is the week for Kearney and Duluth to meet up; the two schools' football teams will tangle in a 2nd round playoff game Saturday in Duluth while the Loper and Bulldog men's basketball teams will play each other Friday in a tournament in Mankato, Minn.

Two-time defending national champion Concordia St.-Paul (31-0) -– riding a 68-match win streak -- will host the eight-team Central Regional and will face RMAC-member Colorado School of Mines in the 1st round. Overall, the Central Region features three RMAC schools and five from the NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference).

The eight-team tournament will be held at Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia-St. Paul. Last year, the Golden Bears hosted this tournament and rallied past UNK, 3-2, in the 2nd round.

The Lopers will be making their 14th overall NCAA appearance. UNK is 23-13 all-time in NCAA play and has advanced to the Elite Eight five times, most recently in 2005. The winner of the Central Regional will advance to the Elite Eight, to be held December 3-5 at a site to be determined.

The complete bracket is at www.ncaasports.com; the Central Regional field is below

Thursday, November 19th
Match # 1 No. 3 UNK (31-2) vs. No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth (22-8)
Match # 2 No. 2 SW Minnesota State (25-7) vs. No. 7 Metro State (24-6)

Match # 3 No. 4 Wayne State (28-7) Vs. No. 5 Minnesota State (25-6)
Match # 4 No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul (31-0) Vs. No. 8 Colorado School of Mines (21-9)

Friday, November 20th
Match # 5 UNK/UMD Winner Vs. SW Minnesota/Metro Winner
Match # 6 WSC/MSU winner vs. CSP/Mines winner

Saturday, November 21st
Match # 7 Championship