Baylor Volleyball Heads to NCAA Tournament for Third-Straight Season

WACO, Texas – 25th-ranked Baylor volleyball earned its third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in program history and will travel to Eugene, Ore. for the opening rounds, announced Sunday evening.

Selected to the Eugene Regional hosted by 15th-seeded Oregon, the Bears (19-8) will face at-large bid Hawai’i (18-8) from the Big West Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT. In the second match, New Mexico State (24-7) will face the host Ducks (20-10) at 8 p.m. CT at Matthew Knight Arena.

The winners will face off for a spot in the NCAA Round of 16 Friday at 8 p.m. CT.

“We feel grateful to be in the tournament,” head coach Ryan McGuyre said. “It’s something we come to expect from ourselves. With all the injuries we’ve had and the up-and-down moments and to battle and finish second in the Big 12, we’re pleased with that. We’ve come a long way at Baylor.”

Overall, BU is 5-6 all-time in NCAA tournament play after advancing to the second round the past two seasons. In the first round, Baylor looks for its first-ever win against Hawai’i as the Rainbow Wahine hold a 6-0 all-time series lead.

Thursday’s matchup will be the first neutral site meeting between both programs.

“It’s been a long and fun season, so just seeing our name come up on the screen was such a joy,” redshirt junior Shelly Fanning said. “(The NCAA Tournament) is definitely a different stage. You’ve got to play every game like it’s your last. It’s an awesome experience. I’m excited for our freshmen and excited to go further in the tournament than we have in the past.”