MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament champion Central Michigan volleyball team will play No. 3 Illinois in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the NCAA announced Sunday night.
The Chippewas (19-13) and the Fighting Illini (27-4) will square off in Champaign, Ill. on Friday at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CT) with the winner advancing to take on the winner of Marquette (23-10) and Western Kentucky (31-3) on Saturday. Fridayʼs match will mark the seventh time these two teams have met, with the Maroon and Gold holding a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series.
CMU is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament after defeating the No. 3 seed, Western Michigan, No. 2 seed, Ohio, and the No. 1 seed, Northern Illinois, in the MAC Tournament. The MAC has the fifth most teams of any conference in the tournament with four; CMU, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Ball State.
Check back to CMUChippewas.com later this week for a complete preview of the first-round matchup for the Chippewas.
