Nov. 26, 2000

MILWAUKEE - The season will go on for the UWM women's volleyball team.

The Panthers received a bid to the 64-team field for the NCAA Tournament Sunday night. UWM, the 11th seed in the Mideast Region, will face sixth-seeded Michigan State in a first round contest at a regional hosted by UCLA.

The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. pacific time (7 p.m. Milwaukee time) on Saturday in Los Angeles.

"To play a team from the Big 10 is a great opportunity," coach Kathy Litzau said. "We've beaten teams from the Big 10 before. We're not just happy to be here. We're here to win."

The Panthers, 23-4, lost in the semifinals of the MCC Tournament, but advanced to the NCAA's on the strength of a regular season conference title, and wins over NCAA entrants Loyola and Cincinnati. Three of UWM's four losses also came to NCAA teams.

"It was up and down," Litzau said of her team's chances to make the field of 64. "I felt the teams we beat were significant, and the losses we had were not bad losses. You just don't know what the committee is going to weigh."

The Panthers will be making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and their third overall. Last year, UWM was beaten 3-1 by the University of Illinois in a first round match. Two years ago, the Panthers fell to the University of Texas, 3-0.

Michigan State finished the regular season 17-12, and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA field. The Spartans were 10-10 and 5th in the Big 10. The Spartans and Panthers share no common opponents on their 2000 schedules, and the two teams have never met.

The hosts from UCLA and Morgan State University make up the other half of the four-team regional in Los Angeles. UCLA is the third seed in the Mideast Region, and the Bruins have won three national titles and are making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance.

The regional final match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.