Field Set for 2020 Southland Volleyball Tournament
FRISCO, Texas – The 2020 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament field has been finalized, following the conclusion of regular-season play Saturday. Postseason play is set to begin Wednesday, March 31, with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hosting inside Dugan Wellness Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Stephen F. Austin has secured the tournament’s No. 1 seed for the fourth-consecutive season after its 3-1 victory over Houston Baptist at home Saturday. The Ladyjacks have earned a double-bye and an automatic berth in the semifinal round.
Sam Houston gained the No. 2 seed, following a 3-1 win over Abilene Christian Saturday to conclude the conference portion of its schedule. The Bearkats have also been awarded a double-bye and an automatic spot in the semifinal round of the Southland Tournament.
Tournament play opens Wednesday, March 31, at 4 p.m. CT with match one between No. 6 Central Arkansas and No. 7 Abilene Christian. The Sugar Bears swept the Wildcats in Abilene, Texas, in their lone meeting of the season (March 20). Match two is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start on Wednesday between No. 5 Houston Baptist and No. 8 UIW. The Huskies topped the Cardinals 3-1 earlier this season (March 4) in Houston, Texas.
No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana awaits the winner of the opening match in the second round for match three, which is slated to begin Thursday, April 1, at 4 p.m. Tournament host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi holds the No. 4 seed and will take on the winner between the Huskies and the Cardinals in the second round for match four at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening. The No. 2 Bearkats will take on the winner of match three, Friday, April 2, at 12 p.m. for match five. Top-seeded Stephen F. Austin awaits in the semifinals for match six against the winner of match four, Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday’s championship matchup is set for a 2 p.m. first serve. Each round of the 2020 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+.
The tournament champion will receive the league’s automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball tournament, hosted in Omaha, Neb., beginning April 14.
TOURNAMENT SEEDS
No. 1 – Stephen F. Austin (23-5, 11-1 SLC)
No. 2 – Sam Houston (10-2, 10-2 SLC)
No. 3 – Southeastern Louisiana (11-4, 9-3 SLC)
No. 4 – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11-4, 9-3 SLC)
No. 5 – Houston Baptist (9-9, 8-4 SLC)
No. 6 – Central Arkansas (10-7, 8-4 SLC)
No. 7 – Abilene Christian (7-7, 6-6 SLC)
No. 8 – UIW (6-8, 6-6 SLC)
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
First Round – Wednesday, March 31, 2021
4 p.m. - Match 1 - No. 6 Central Arkansas vs. No. 7 Abilene Christian (ESPN+)
6:30 p.m. - Match 2 - No. 5 Houston Baptist vs. No. 8 UIW (ESPN+)
Second Round – Thursday, April 1, 2021
4 p.m. - Match 3 - No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana vs. Winner Match 1 (ESPN+)
6:30 p.m. - Match 4 - No. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Winner Match 2 (ESPN+)
Semifinals – Friday, April 2, 2021
12 p.m. - Match 5 - No. 2 Sam Houston vs. Winner Match 3 (ESPN+)
2:30 p.m. - Match 6 - No. 1 Stephen F. Austin vs. Winner Match 4 (ESPN+)
Championship – Saturday, April 3, 2021
2 p.m. – Game 9 - Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6 (ESPN+)