Sunday, November 30, 2008

MACON, Ga. - In Los Angeles, the Bruins of UCLA have dominated the volleyball landscape, but the Bruins from Belmont will take over when they take on the WAC champion Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine in NCAA Tournament play.

Belmont (25-7) will face No. 7 Hawai`i (28-3) in its second NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bruins made the field of 64 previously in 2006, taking on Ohio State, losing in three set.

The Rainbow Wahine put together a 15-1 mark in the WAC and has lost just once since Sept. 1. Hawai`i won its ninth-straight WAC Tournament title led by MVP Jamie Houston who hit hit .341 with 22 kills, 11 digs and three blocks in the title game. Houston earned a spot in the All-Conference First Team for the third-straight season and won her second WAC Player of the Year award, the 13th-straight year, someone from Hawai`i captured the WAC Player of the Year.

Hawai`i owns three national titles (1982, 83, 87), one of nine schools in the field of 64 to have won the national championship.

The matchup will take place between Dec. 4 and 7.