Volleyball ready for its first dance

Week 15: NCAA Tournament
Northern Colorado notes | Big Sky Conference notes

GREELEY, Colo. -- Northern Colorado, winners of this year's Big Sky Conference Championship, will taste NCAA Division I postseason play for the first time Thursday, Dec. 3, when it faces #6 Washington in the first round of this years NCAA Volleyball Championships at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo.

A victory there would be historic and give Northern Colorado a chance at revenge against Colorado State or a first meeting with Middle Tennessee State.

SOME STORY LINES

• Northern Colorado volleyball has already authored arguably the finest season in school history. At 21 wins, the Bears have won more than they have in any other NCAA Division I season and the most since winning 25 matches in 2004.

• There’s still some fun to be had, though. The Bears, in winning last week’s conference championship, now get to compete on the biggest stage possible, taking on Washington on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

• The Bears are making their first appearance in an NCAA Division I postseason tournament, but Northern Colorado is no stranger to postseason play. NC made 15 appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, most recently in 2002.

• A victory Thursday would, obviously, be the biggest in the history of Northern Colorado volleyball and would allow Northern Colorado a potential rematch with rival Colorado State. The Bears fell to the Rams 3-2 this year at Moby Arena.