Nov. 25, 2000

MILWAUKEE - The waiting is nearly over, and the time to find out if the UWM volleyball season will continue is upon us.

The Panthers (23-4) will find out their fate Sunday night, when the NCAA announces the field of 64 teams that will comprise this year's NCAA Tournament.

UWM fell in the semifinals of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference tournament after winning a share of the regular season title. Loyola earned the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament by winning the league tournament.

UWM first made the tournament field after winning the MCC Tournament in 1998. Last year, UWM fell in the championship game to Loyola, but earned an automatic berth into the field of 64, and won a game from Big 10 power Illinois.

The team and coaches will gather in Cunningham Hall on the UWM campus Sunday evening to view the announcement of the pairings. The telecast is available on a handful of regional sports networks on Direct TV. The announcement begins at 7 p.m. central time.

If the Panthers make the field, they would play their first match of the tournament as soon as Thursday.