UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Feb. 3, 2005 - Penn State University and Rec Hall have been chosen as one of four host sites for the 2005 NCAA Tournament Regional Championships to be held in December on dates still to be determined. Penn State joins the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Maples Pavilion and Stanford University and the G. Rollie White Coliseum and Texas A&M University as the four pre-determined sites.

¡°We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring our regional championships to these four outstanding sites,¡± commented Julie Hermann, chair of the NCAA Division I Women¡¯s Volleyball Committee. ¡°Having the opportunity to pre-select our regionals has made these rounds of the championship stronger than ever and a better student-athlete experience. The volleyball committee felt this year's selections were very capable of building on this success and continuing to take it to the next level.¡±

The Nittany Lions have hosted at least one round of the NCAA Tournament in 18 of the possible 24 years, including the last 15 consecutive seasons. The Nittany Lions have played 31 NCAA Tournament matches at Rec Hall since 1981, boasting a 29-2 record in those contests. The last time Penn State and Rec Hall hosted an NCAA Regional Championship was 1999, the same year the Nittany Lions claimed the NCAA title.

"We are very excited to be hosting a women's volleyball NCAA Regional Championship in 2005,¡± said Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley. ¡°Penn State is a great school for volleyball, both men's and women's, and we are honored to be chosen to host this event. We take great pride in putting together high-caliber events that create an experience for the fans and the teams involved, and I have no doubt that the NCAA Regional Championship will meet our high Penn State standard and showcase some great volleyball."

Penn State is one of only four teams to participate in all 24 NCAA Tournaments since its inception in 1981, joining Pacific, Stanford and UC Santa Barbara. The Nittany Lions hold a 43-23 all-time NCAA Tournament record.

¡°We¡¯re very appreciative that Penn State has the opportunity to host an NCAA Regional,¡± said head coach Russ Rose, who has compiled a 829-150 overall record through his 26 seasons. ¡°We realize that hosting an event of this caliber entails a great commitment by the University and we¡¯re pleased that Penn State and our administration supports volleyball in the great way that it does to give us this chance.¡±

Potential dates for the NCAA Regionals are Dec. 8-9, 9-10 or 10-11. The on-sale date for tickets is yet to be determined but ticket prices for the Penn State Regional are as follows:
All Session: Adults, $15, Student/Senior Citizen, $10, Youth (under 12), $4
Single Session: Adults, $10, Student/Senior Citizen, $8, Youth (under 12), $3

The 2005 NCAA Championship will be held in San Antonio, Texas, at the Alamodome on Dec. 15 and 17. The 2006 Championship will be held in Omaha, Neb., at the Qwest Center and Arena on Dec. 14 and 16. The 2007 Championship will be held in Sacramento, Calif., at ARCO Arena on Dec. 13 and 15.

Penn State will also be the host of the 2006 NCAA Men¡¯s Volleyball National Collegiate Championship, to be held May 4 and 6 at Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions have hosted the men¡¯s national championship three times, including the culmination of the 2002 season in which economic impact on the region was estimated at more than $2.3 million. The total attendance for the event featuring Penn State, Ball State, Pepperdine and Hawaii was more than 10,600 fans. A standing-room-only crowd of 5,259 watched Hawaii and Pepperdine advance to the national title match with more than 5,350 fans witnessing Hawaii take home the NCAA crown.

Please visit www.GoPSUsports.com for more information on the Penn State women¡¯s volleyball team and for more information about the 2005 NCAA Championship, please visit www.ncaasports.com or www.saloc.org/index.html.