ST. LOUIS - Webster University's volleyball squad captured their second consecutive regular season St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) championship and hosting rights for the 2008 SLIAC Tournament. The Gorloks are set to host the four-team tournament this Saturday, November 8, beginning at 2:00 pm.
The top-seeded Gorloks are the defending tournament champions and finished the regular season undefeated at 16-0 in conference play and 21-4 overall. This will be their 14th appearance in the conference tournament, as they are 19-8 all-time in tournament play. Webster also holds the most tournament titles (6).
Principia College (22-9, 14-2 SLIAC) drew the #2 seed and will also be making their 14th conference tournament appearance. The Panthers are 10-16 all-time in tournament play and have made it to the championship game the past two seasons.
No. 3 Maryville (12-16, 11-5 SLIAC) will take on Principia in a semifinal match. The Saints are making their 11th tournament appearance and are 11-11 all-time in tournament play. Maryville's last victory in tournament play came in 1998, when, as the No. 2 seed, they defeated Greenville and Webster, before losing in four sets to Westminster in the championship match.
Greenville College rounds out the field at the No. 4 seed. The Panthers finished 10-6 in conference play and 16-12 overall. This will only be their seventh conference tournament appearance.
The winners of the two semifinal matches will play for the tournament championship at 7:00 pm Saturday evening. The 2008 championship match will also be webcast live on www.prepcasts.com. The champion will receive an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
All-Tournament Team selections and 2008 All-Conference and other special honors will be announced during the All-Star Trophy Awards Ceremony immediately following the championship match.
2008 SLIAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Saturday, November 8
Semifinal Round
#4 Greenville at #1 Webster - 2:00 pm
#3 Maryville vs. #2 Principia - 4:00 pm
Championship
Winners from Semifinal Round - 7:00 pm
