PITT-BRADFORD DRAWS THOMAS MORE FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND AT JUNIATA

The NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Committee announced Monday the field of 64 teams for the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's volleyball team has been paired up with Thomas More University (31-3) in the Huntingdon, Pennsylvania Regional hosted at Juniata College.

The two teams will square off Friday at 3:00 p.m.

Pitt-Bradford earned the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after a thrilling five-set win at and against top-seeded Penn State-Behrend Sunday.

The Panthers dropped the first two sets but gained momentum and came all the way back to earn their second AMCC title in three years.

Thomas More enters the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 7 in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll. The Saints received a Pool 'B' Berth into the NCAA Tournament.

All of the Huntingdon Region matches will be played at the Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Juniata College. 

The Saints captured the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) championship with a 3-0 win over Finlandia University Sunday. Throughout the 2018 season, the Saints took on seven nationally ranked teams, highlighted by a 3-2 win over No. 1 Calvin on Oct. 13.

Also in the Huntingdon, Pennsylvania Regional is the host No. 6 Juniata (24-3), Notre Dame (Md.) (25-4), RV Marymount (Va.) (26-4), RV Mary Washington (20-11), No. 25 Christopher Newport (25-5) and Bethany (W.Va) (22-9). 

Earlier this season, Pitt-Bradford defeated Bethany in four sets at the Wooster Tournament on Sept. 14.

The winner of the Pitt-Bradford vs. Thomas More matchup will advance to play the winner of Christopher Newport vs. Bethany on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

The Huntingdon, Pennsylvania Regional administrators have advised all fans traveling to Juniata to be mindful of possible traffic related to Saturday's Penn State football game.

Additionally, the Penn State Behrend women's volleyball team received its seventh overall bid to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Tournament after finishing the regular season with a 19-10 record.

The Lions are the second seed in pod 2 and will host No. 3 Wilkes University on Wednesday night for first-round action, beginning at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the semifinals at Cabrini on Saturday, November 10 and face the second-seeded McDaniel.