SMU EARNS NO. 7 SEED
SMU (25-6) earned the No. 7 seed and will travel to Austin, Texas to take on Texas State in the first round on Thursday, November 30 at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The winner will face the winner of No. 2 Texas and Texas A&M. It marks the third appearance in the tournament for the Mustangs and the first since 2016.
SIX TEAMS EARN NIVC BIDS
Six American Athletic Conference volleyball teams were selected to participate in the 2023 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) as East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, South Florida, Tulsa and Wichita State all earned bids. The American led all conferences with six selections.
MUSTANGS EARN FOUR OF FIVE MAJOR AWARDS
The Mustangs become the second team to win four of the five major awards, joining the 2015 SMU squad who accomplished the same feat. Graduate middle blocker Emma Clothier was named Player of the Year, graduate Sina Uluave was named Libero of the Year, senior Celia Cullen was named Setter of the Year and second year head coach Sam Erger was voted Coach of the Year.
TULANE’S BURKS NAMED FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Tulane’s freshman outside hitter Avery Burks was voted Freshman of the Year in The American. Burks becomes the first Freshman of the Year recipient for Tulane. Burks finished 9th in The American in kills per set with 3.21, while scoring 3.53 points per set. She posted double-digit kills in 14 conference matches, including a career-high 24 kills against Wichita State on October 13.
NCAA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round | Thursday, November 30
No. 7 SMU vs Texas State (ESPN+)______________ 5 p.m.
NIVC TOURNAMENT
First Round | Thursday, November 30
Tulsa vs Kansas City (ESPN+)__________________ 4:30 p.m.
Wichita State vs Arkansas State (ESPN+)_______ 7 p.m.
First Round | Friday, December 1
South Florida vs Buffalo_______________________ 4 p.m.
East Carolina vs The Citadel (ESPN+)___________ 6 p.m.
Florida Atlantic vs UT Arlington________________ 7 p.m.
North Texas at UTEP__________________________ 9:30 p.m.
* denotes American Athletic Conference game
All times ET and subject to change
