Indianapolis, Ind.----The NCAA Southeast Region champion Wingate University Bulldogs received the number four seed in next week's NCAA Division II women's volleyball national quarterfinals, which will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Bulldogs will take on fifth-seeded and eighth-ranked Washburn next Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the National Quarterfinals. The finals will take place Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh.

"In so many ways this opportunity is very special for this year's Wingate team," head coach Shelton Collier says. "All three of our matches here at Wingate in the regional championship this past weekend were amazing, both in terms of our performance and with the incredible support of the fans, and as a result, we have now earned the right to be a part of the National Quarterfinals. For our players and our program, this is truly an exceptional accomplishment and we are so excited about going to the NCAA Fall Festival in Pittsburgh. We are looking forward to playing Washburn, who is year in and year out one of the top teams in the country. In addition to an opportunity to play at the national tournament, our players will be able to have an amazing experience with everything else the event has to offer, which is exciting. We are so proud that we have earned this opportunity and our players are fired up about making the most of it."

South Region champion Tampa is the number one seed, facing eighth-seeded American International out of the Central Region. Wheeling Jesuit is the number two seed, representing the Atlantic Region, facing Midwest Region champs Lewis. West Region champion Western Washington is the number three seed, facing sixth-seeded Tarleton State out of the South Central Region. The Wheeling Jesuit-Lewis match starts the action next Thursday at noon, followed by the Western Washington-Tarleton State match. Tampa and American International get underway at 5 p.m., with the Wingate-Washburn matchup wrapping up the quarterfinals.

Wingate enters the national quarterfinals at 32-1 overall and ranked 24th nationally, winning the SAC regular season and tournament title to give the 'Dogs 23 total SAC championships over the last 13 seasons. The Bulldogs won their fifth NCAA Southeast Region title since 2010, marking the fifth time over the last eight years the 'Dogs have won the regular season SAC title, SAC Tournament championship and NCAA Southeast Regional title in the same year. This will mark the 12th straight season of Wingate ranking in the top 10 nationally in winning percentage. This is the ninth time since 2007 the Bulldogs have won over 30 matches in a season. The 'Dogs are 377-33 overall since the start of the 2007 season.

Washburn enters the national quarterfinals at 32-4 overall. The Ichabods are in the final eight for the first time since 2007 after a five-set victory over ninth-ranked and two-time defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul in the Central Region title match. Washburn was the number three seed in the challenging Central Region, defeating fifth-ranked Northern State in the opening round, then knocking off fourth-ranked Minnesota Duluth in the regional semifinals.

The Bulldogs are making their fifth trip to the national quarterfinals, still looking for their first appearance in the national semifinals. Wingate is 22-14 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, with all of those victories coming since the 2008 season. This marks the 14th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Bulldogs and 15th all-time, both of which are SAC records, as are the 22 victories. Wingate looks to become the first volleyball team in SAC history to advance to the national semifinals. The rest of the SAC teams have combined to make one trip to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals.

In addition to leading the nation in winning percentage, Wingate ranks fourth nationally in kills per set and assists per set, while ranking fifth in opponents' hitting percentage. The 'Dogs rank 13th in the country in digs per set and 21st in hitting percentage. SAC and Region Player of the Year Rachel Alles ranks 15th nationally in assists per set, while Kori Adams, the school's all-time leader in career digs, ranks 18th in the country in digs per set.

Wingate's balanced offensive attack has four players with over 200 kills this season, led by All-SAC and All-Region middle blocker Phoebe Havenaar, who was named the SAC Tournament MVP. The SAC leader in hitting percentage, Havenaar is fourth in the conference with 3.22 kills per set. All-Region honoree Hannah Givens is fifth in the league with 3.04 kills per set, while 2017 AVCA All-American Anna Holmquist is second in the SAC in hitting percentage while accumulating 2.88 kills per set. Holmquist is Wingate's all-time leader in career hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Taylor Williams averages 2.31 kills per set, coming off a 10-kill effort in the region title match while hitting .300. Sophie Schaff earned a spot on the All-Southeast Region Tournament team, hitting .353 over the three matches with 24 kills.

The winner of the Wingate vs. Washburn contest advances to the national semifinals Friday in Pittsburgh to take on the winner of the Tampa vs. American International match. The national championship match is slated for Saturday, Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball National Quarterfinals
(A.J. Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Thursday, Nov. 29
12 p.m. - #2 Wheeling Jesuit vs. #7 Lewis
2:30 p.m. - #3 Western Washington vs. #6 Tarleton State
5 p.m. - #1 Tampa vs. #8 American International
7:30 p.m. - #4 Wingate vs. #5 Washburn

Friday, Nov. 30
TBA – WJU-Lewis winner vs. WW-TSU winner
TBA – UT-AI winner vs. WU-Washburn winner

Saturday, Dec. 1
3 p.m. – National Championship Match

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 12 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 105 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 114 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.