Complete NCAA Division III Tournament Bracket

MOORHEAD, Minn.-- Of all the improbable story lines someone could think of for the 2005 Concordia volleyball team, getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament would have probably been the most absurd.

The Cobbers finished fourth in the MIAC in the regular season and were promptly swept in the first round of the playoffs. They had already checked in their equipment and the coaching staff was starting to hit the recruiting trail.

History made the turn of events even more amazing since there has never been more than two teams from the conference ever selected to play in the "big show."

All that changed with one phone call on Sunday night as the Cobbers were selected to participate in the 2005 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament. Concordia will play in the regional held at St. Thomas and will be one of four MIAC teams in the seven-team tournament.

It is the third straight season that Concordia has earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cobbers (21-4) are seeded fifth in the regional and will play Carleton (21-4) on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 3:30pm at St. Thomas. The Knights are the #4 seed after being swept by St. Ben's in the conference semifinals.

The winner of the Concordia/Carleton match-up will play #1 Washington University (Mo.) on Friday in the regional semifinals.

The Blazers, conference tournament runners-up received the #3 seed and will play Nebraska Wesleyan, while the Tommies earned the #2 seed but will have to play Central (Iowa). Central, the #7 seed has already defeated St. Thomas twice this season.

NCAA Central Region Volleyball Tournament

St. Paul, Minn. (Univ. of St. Thomas)

Tickets $7 adults/$3 students
Single Elimination

Thursday, Nov. 10
#4 Carleton vs. #5 Concordia-Moorhead, 3:30 p.m.
#3 St. Benedict vs. #6 Nebraska Wesleyan, 6 p.m.
#2 St. Thomas vs. #7 Central (Iowa), 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 11 (Game times 4:30 p.m./7 p.m.)
Carleton/Concordia winner vs.

#1 Washington Univ. (Mo.)
St. Benedict/Nebraska Wesleyan winner vs.

St. Thomas /Central winner

Saturday, Nov. 12
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.