Tampa Set to Open Regional Title Defense as South Region Host

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa volleyball team will host the eight-team NCAA Division II Volleyball South Regional beginning Thursday, Dec. 5, with hopes of capturing its fifth straight regional crown.

The Spartans will play the fourth match on December 5, meeting the champions and automatic bid from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), Kentucky State University. Tampa enters with a 29-1 overall record and winners of all 16 Sunshine State Conference matches. The Thoroughbreds are 23-18 and coming off a SIAC tournament championship.

Tampa is 42-13 all-time in the NCAA South Regional, including a 12-match winning streak where UT has only dropped three sets. The Spartans are also 5-0 against the SIAC in the regional. The Spartans will meet KSU to open the regional for the third time in the last four years, as UT swept the previous two meetings.

The first day of play will begin with a 12 noon matchup between No. 3 Eckerd and No. 6 West Florida, followed by No. 2 Palm Beach Atlantic and No. 7 Rollins at 2:30 p.m., and No. 4 Florida Southern and No. 5 Eckerd at 5 p.m.

All NCAA South Region matches will be streamed through TampaSpartans.tv, as the host will also offer free live stats for all matches through Tampa.Statbroadcast.com. Links are available through the NCAA South Regional Web page.

Fans may purchase tickets at the gate for $10 (adults), and $6 (students and senior citizens). Children under 12 will be admitted free. UT faculty/staff and students will also be admitted free with a valid Spartan ID card courtesy of student government. Visitor parking is available in the parking garage north of the Martinez Center.

Click here for the official NCAA South Regional host page

Match Times
Thursday, December 5, 2013
MATCHUP TIME
#3 Eckerd vs. #6 West Florida 12:00 pm
#2 Palm Beach Atlantic vs. #7 Rollins 2:30 pm
#4 Florida Southern vs. #5 Saint Leo 5:00 pm
#1 Tampa vs. #8 Kentucky State 7:30 pm

Friday, December 6, 2013
MATCHUP TIME
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 4:30 pm
Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 7, 2013
MATCHUP TIME
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2 7:00 pm