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UD to host NCAA volleyball regional

Flyers, 30-4 last season, could earn a tourney home match.

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 12:46 AM Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The University of Dayton has been picked as one of four sites for an NCAA women’s volleyball regional in December, and Flyers coach Kelly Sheffield considered the selection a sign of respect for his program.

But Sheffield doesn’t just want to host the event. He wants to participate in it.

The Flyers return all of their starters from a team that finished 30-4 last year and won the Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament titles. They reached the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling to Illinois.

“It’s great for our sport to have the top teams in the country playing here,” Sheffield said. “The other thing is we’ve got a real shot at playing there.

“We’re the only Top-25 team that returns every starter. We feel like this could be a special year.”

Dayton has hosted NCAA first- and second-round matches at the Frericks Center in the past. And while the regional will be held at UD Arena, the Flyers could have a chance to play on their home floor all the way to the Final Four.

The other regional sites are at Penn State, Washington and Texas. Penn State beat Texas for the title last season.

“Once again, this proves what the NCAA thinks of the University of Dayton and Dayton as a city — about how we support college athletics,” Sheffield said.

“In our sport, they don’t spread these around usually. It’s something you get because they want great attendance. Our crowds over the years have gotten their attention.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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