Washington University in St. Louis Selected to Host 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships

St. Louis, Mo., September 30, 2008 – Washington University in St. Louis has been selected to host the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships as a part of the NCAA Championship City pilot program, it was announced by the NCAA. Washington University will partner with Fontbonne University to host the 2010 championship, held Nov. 19-21, and the 2011 championship, held Nov. 18-20, at the WU Field House.

Washington University has hosted four NCAA Division III volleyball national championships in the past, from 1989-1992, and the Bears won the NCAA title in three out of those four seasons. Washington U. has hosted six NCAA Division III championships overall, also serving as the host site for the 1995 men’s soccer, and 2007 men’s tennis national championships.

The Championship City pilot program will feature multiple host opportunities of NCAA Division I, II and III men’s and women’s championships through 2012.  The centerpiece of the Championship City pilot program is a long-term agreement between the NCAA and each host city to bring a wide array of championships and ancillary events to the six geographical areas over the course of several years.

Through the program, the cities will work more closely with NCAA administrators to provide an enhanced championship experience for NCAA student-athletes and fans. In addition to St. Louis, Cary, N.C., Cleveland, Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind., San Antonio, Texas, and San Diego, Calif., were selected as a part of the Championship City pilot program.

The Washington University volleyball team has won an NCAA-record nine NCAA Division III volleyball national championships, most recently defeating the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 3-2, in the 2007 title match in Bloomington, Ind. The Bears also won an unprecedented six-straight national titles from 1991-1996.