Blue Raiders Headed to Louisville in NCAA Tourney

The Middle Tennessee volleyball team wait to hear their name called in the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show on Sunday at Toots. The Blue Raiders will face Louisville on Friday. (MT Media Relations)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee volleyball will travel to Louisville, Ky. to face host Louisville at 6 p.m. Friday December 1 in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Championships.

Louisville is 25-6 on the season and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament by defeating Notre Dame 3-2 in the Big East Championships. Middle Tennessee will be making its second appearance in the NCAA tournament thanks to a 3-0 win over Florida International to take the Sun Belt Tournament crown.

"Before the selections were announced I was thinking that playing at Louisville would be an option," said Head Coach Matt Peck. "I think this is a good draw for us. It is close enough for our fans to drive to and it will be a good match-up."

Middle Tennessee will face Louisville for just the third time in school history. The Cardinals hold a 2-0 advantage over the Blue Raiders with the last victory coming in 1993 when Louisville won 3-0.

The Blue Raiders were placed in the Seattle, Washington Regional in a bracket that includes No. 19 Ohio State who will face Belmont in the first round. Should the Blue Raiders advance to the second round the club would either face the Buckeyes or the Bruins on December 2.