Nov. 16, 1999

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee volleyball team is the top school in the district according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) rankings released today. For the fourth straight and final ranking period of the season, the Panthers earned the top spot based on their 24-2 overall and 11-1 conference records. The Panthers also earned that spot in the Oct. 6, Oct. 20, and Nov. 4 rankings periods as well. District rankings are released four times a year, with this year’s final released today.

The current rankings fall as follows: 1. UW – Milwaukee, 2. Southeast Missouri, 3. Cincinnati, 4. Louisville, 5. Houston, 6. Loyola, 7. DePaul, 8. St. Louis, 9. Marquette, 10. Eastern Illinois.

This season marks the first time the Panthers have reached the top spot in the district rankings. The Panthers finished last season ranked No. 6 in the district, No. 4 in 1997, and were not ranked at the end of 1996 or ‘95. District 6 includes the MCC, Conference USA, Ohio Valley, and the SWAC conference schools.

The Panthers begin preparing this week for the MCC Championships this weekend where the team hopes to earn its second consecutive tournament championship and earn the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament next month. The Panthers enter the MCC tournament as the top-seeded team, earning them a bye in the first round of the tournament. UWM will play its first match on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. in Chicago, Ill., at Loyola Chicago’s Gentile Center.