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Volleyball championships to return to UW

December 15, 1998

More than 11,000 tickets have been reserved for the 1998 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship Dec. 17 and 19 at the Kohl Center, putting Wisconsin on track to beat NCAA’s all-time attendance record.


Details
Tickets for the women’s volleyball championship Dec. 17 and 19 can be purchased at the UW Athletic Ticket Office in the Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St. Phone orders: 262-1440. Reserved seats in the 100 and 200 levels are $30 ($20 for students and senior citizens); general admission to the 300 level is $20. Tickets for only the semifinals or championship match, if available, will not be sold until the day of the semifinals.


This will be the second time that Wisconsin has played host to the championship. In 1993, the championship match at the UW Field House drew a record crowd of 11,155. Since then, only Nebraska has drawn more volleyball fans to a championship event.

Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1998 championship, the largest number in tournament history. In 1981, only 20 teams competed in the tournament. Last year, 56 teams were selected for post-season play.

The Wisconsin volleyball team was seeded sixth, but lost to Nebraska this past weekend in the regional finals.The Badgers finished the regular season 27-4 and in second place in the Big Ten Conference.

About 2,300 tickets have been reserved for the participating teams, the NCAA, the American Volleyball Coaches Association Convention, event sponsors and others. The UW Athletic Department has sold the rest.

Two semifinals will be played Thursday, Dec. 17 starting at 7 p.m. The championship match begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.

Other related events include:

  • The American Volleyball Coaches Convention Tuesday, Dec. 15 through Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Marriott-Madison West is expected to attract at least 1,300 high school and college coaches from around the nation.
  • The Youth Education Through Sport Clinic Saturday, Dec. 19 from 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center is expected to draw more than 500 area children, ages 10- 18, for a free volleyball clinic that features college coaches and student-athletes from all over the country.
  • USA Volleyball will hold tryouts for the women’s 1999 World University Games team and the women’s 1999 Pan-American Games team Dec. 18-20 in Madison. Several members of the U.S. National team will also be in town, including Wisconsin natives Jeff Nygaard of Madison and Tom Sorensen of Racine.