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Dec. 3, 2009

Making their 20th NCAA appearance, the University of Louisville (21-10) will face Minnesota (24-8) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. (ET).

For complete details or to follow the match from home go to: http://www.utladyvols.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/2009-ncaa-volleyball.html.

U of L is 12-19 overall in its 19 previous appearances with the Cardinals reaching the Sweet Sixteen four times (1996, 1998, 2004 and 2005). Yelin is 11-12 in the NCAAs and skippered all four Sweet Sixteen appearances.

"We are happy and excited to have a chance to keep on playing," said Leonid Yelin, U of L head coach. "We have a hard road ahead of us but not an impossible one. If we play to our potential, give our best and play to our ability there is no reason not to advance. These are all well-coached, successful programs and we will have to put our best effort forward."

Louisville joins Minnesota as one of 11 teams in the nation to have qualified for 11 or more NCAA Tournaments in a row. The Cardinals will be making their 12th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Louisville is led by Lola Arslanbekova who is averaging 4.35 kps and 1.64 dps. Lecia Brown leads the team with 1.50 blps and has 2.08 kps. Justine Landi is also averaging 2.20 kps, 2.41 dps and 0.74 blps. Lindsey Mango leads the team in digs with 3.61 dps. Louisville claimed the automatic bid out of the Big East, after defeating Syracuse, Notre Dame and Cincinnati in the Big East Tournament. The Cardinals enter the NCAA Tournament with a 21-10 overall record and finished fourth in the Big East during the regular-season at 10-4. U of L is one of the best blocking teams in the nation. Ranked No. 5 in the nation in blocking, U of L just tied a record for blocks in a match with 23 against Jacksonville State yesterday. U of L's chief threat at the net is Lecia Brown, the 5-8 middle who can touch 10-8. She averages 1.5 blocks per set. She is the Cardinals' leading career blocker and holds the single match record with 13.

Minnesota received a No. 11 national seed in this year's NCAA Tournament, and a No. 3 seed in the Minneapolis Region. It marked the sixth time in eight years that the Golden Gophers have received a national seed. Since seeding the top 16 seeds begin in 2000 in the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament, Minnesota has been seeded No. 13 or higher seven times.

Minnesota enters the NCAA Tournament with an 8-8 record against the field. The Golden Gophers are 2-3 against teams from the Gainesville Regional, 2-2 against teams from the Stanford Regional, 2-2 against teams from the Minneapolis Regional and 2-1 against teams from the Omaha Region.

The Golden Gophers are led by junior middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer, who is one of two players in the nation to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting percentage (.409) and blocks (1.49). Gibbemeyer, who was named First-Team All-Big Ten on Nov. 30, is second in the Big Ten hitting percentage (.409), eighth in points (4.17 pps), is third in blocks (1.49 blps) and 10th in kills (3.26).

Duke received an at-large bid out of the ACC after going 27-5 overall and finishing second at 17-3 in conference play. The Blue Devils have won 12 of 13 matches heading into the NCAA Tournament, with its only loss coming in five sets at the No. 3 seed Florida State. Duke is led by Rachel Moss who has 3.38 kps and 2.96 dps. Recci Burling leads the team with 0.98 blps and is averaging 2.83 kps. Sophia Dunworth also has 2.61 kps on the season. Setter Kellie Catanach is averaging 10.53 aps, 1.79 dps, 0.85 kps and 0.52 blps. Claire Smalzer leads the team in digs with 3.98 dps.

Tennessee comes into the NCAA Tournament with a 23-7 overall record and finished second in the SEC with a 16-4 record. The Lady Vols received an at-large bid out of the SEC after going 23-7 overall and finishing third at 16-4 in conference play. Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament having won 13 of its final 15 matches. The Lady Vols defeated Kentucky twice and Florida once in that stretch. Tennessee is led by Nikki Fowler who has 3.78 kps, 3.27 dps and 0.88 blps. Kayla Jeter is also averaging 2.88 kps and 0.58 blps. Farren Powe leads the team with 1.21 blps and 1.79 kps. The Lady Vols have had three different players set at different times this year. Kelsey Mahoney set in the final two matches, and is averaging 6.82 aps and 1.96 dps