STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Dec. 1, 2002 - For the 22nd consecutive time, the Penn State women's volleyball team was selected into the 64-team NCAA Tournament field, it was announced tonight. The first round, on Friday, Dec. 6, features the Nittany Lions (24-7) and Pennsylvania (22-4) at 7:30 p.m., with Temple (26-6) facing Manhattan (30-2) in the 5:00 p.m. match. The winners of those contests square off on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:00 p.m. All contests will be played at Rec Hall on the University Park campus.

The Nittany Lions are one of eight Big Ten teams to make the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana and Michigan also made the cut.

Penn State has earned the right to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament 15 times. Since the NCAA Tournament started sponsoring volleyball in 1981, only four teams in the country have appeared in all 22 events. Penn State joins Pacific, Stanford and UC Santa Barbara among the elite programs to accomplish the feat. The Nittany Lions have compiled an overall record of 37-20 (.649) in the NCAA Tournament, including a 24-1 record in postseason play at Rec Hall.

All-session tickets for the first and second rounds will be available in advance until Friday at 5:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $10 and student, youth and senior citizens are $6. Those tickets can be obtained by calling 814-865-5555. Single match tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the match only, with adults at $7 and students, youth and senior citizens at $5.

For more information on Penn State women's volleyball, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.

Click here for tournament bracket.