The University of Nebraska at Omaha volleyball team has qualified for the NCAA II North Central Regional to be held on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. The Mavericks (16-10) enter the Regional as the tournament's No. 4 seed. UNO will take on the No. 5 seed Augustana (17-9) in the the tournament's first match beginning at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18.

It marks the 14th time in school history and the sixth time in the Rose Shires' era that the Mavericks have qualified for the NCAA II Tournament. The winner of the North Central Regional will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on December 2-4 on the campus of one of the participating teams.

The Schedule:
NCAA II North Central Regional
Hosted by Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn.

Thursday, November 18
Game 1 - #4 Nebraska-Omaha (16-10) vs. #5 Augustana (17-9), 12:00 p.m
Game 2 - #1 Minnesota Duluth (23-4) vs. #8 St. Cloud State (19-11), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #3 South Dakota (17-13) vs. #6 Southwest Minn. State (22-9), 5:00 p.m.
Game 4 - #2 Concordia University (30-2) vs. #7 MSU Moorhead (23-7), 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 19 - Semifinals
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6:00 p.m.
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 20 - NCAA Division II North Central Region Championship
Winner Semifinal Game 1 vs. Semifinal Winner Game 2, 7:00 p.m.

Results on the Internet:
All the results and match recaps from the NCAA II North Central Regional will be posted on Concordia's website.

The Record:
Nebraska-Omaha is currently 16-10 on the season. The Mavericks finished in 5th place in the North Central Conference standings with a 6-6 league record. UNO received 11 votes in the most recent CSTV/AVCA top 25 poll released on Nov. 9.

Maverick Magazine:
Listen to head coach Rose Shires on Maverick Magazine, a weekly radio show which airs each Tuesday night from 6:05 to 6:30 p.m. on KOZN, 1620 am. Local radio personality Kevin Kugler, the voice of UNO football, is the host of Maverick Magazine, which highlights all of Nebraska-Omaha's athletic teams.

Last Week:
Match 25- Eighth-Ranked Bulldogs Sweep UNO:
DULUTH, Minn. - The University of Nebraska at Omaha committed 20 hitting errors and hit just .115 as eighth-ranked Minnesota Duluth handed the Mavericks a 3-0 (30-25, 30-24, 30-25) loss in North Central Conference volleyball action Friday night before 589 in Romano Gymnasium.
None of the Mavericks could manage double-digits in kills in the match. Senior Amy McLeay had seven kills and 12 digs to pace the UNO attack. Three Mavericks, Jenny Rankin, Ashley Freeman, and Heather Hainline, each managed six kills.
Junior setter Christie Johnson delivered 27 set assists along with two kills and one service ace. Junior Chelsea Miller matched McLeay with a team-high 12 digs.
Minnesota Duluth (22-4, 9-2 NCC) was led by senior Callie Zwettler who recorded a double-double with 17 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Vicky Braegelman tallied 10 kills on a match-high .421 hitting percentage.

Match 26- Mavs End Regular Season With Sweep Over MSU
MANKATO, Minn. -- Despite hitting just .094 on the evening, the University of Nebraska at Omaha managed a 3-0 (30-26, 30-24, 30-27) sweep over Minnesota State in North Central Conference volleyball action Saturday night before 270 at Bresnan Arena. The Mavericks end the regular season with a 16-10 overall record and a 6-6 mark in the NCC, good for fifth place.
The Mavericks were led by junior libero Chelsea Miller, who recorded a match-high 30 digs along with two service aces. Nebraska-Omaha held a commanding 72 to 58 advantage in digs and an 8 to 2 advantage in service aces. The Mavericks also benefited from six Minnesota State service errors, compared to just three for UNO.
Offensively, Nebraska-Omaha was led by senior outside hitter Jenny Rankin who registered nine kills and one block. Junior Heather Hainline and senior Amy McLeay each added eight kills in the win. Junior setter Christie Johnson recorded a double-double with 36 assists and 10 digs.
Minnesota State (10-17, 3-9 NCC) was led by sophomore Mandy Reuter with 16 kills and three blocks. Senior outside hitter Michelle West notched a double-double with 10 kills and 17 digs.

Shires Earns 300th Career Victory:
Rose Shires picked up her 300th career victory when the Mavericks swept Hillsdale 3-0 (30-17, 31-29, 30-25) on Aug. 28 at the North Alabama Classic. Shires has amassed a 312-174 (. 642) career record in her 15th season as the Mavericks' mentor. Shires, the 1996 AVCA Division II national coach of the year, is the second winningest coach in the school's history behind Janice Kruger who recorded a 352-96 mark in her nine Maverick seasons from 1979-87.

Rankin Joins 1,000-Kill Club:
With her third kill in the Mavericks' 3-0 sweep over Minnesota State on Oct. 2, outside hitter Jenny Rankin became just the 15th player in school history to record 1,000 career kills. Rankin, a senior from North Platte, Neb., has now registered 1,099 kills in her four-year Maverick career, good for 14th place on the UNO career records chart.

Johnson Moves Up Career Charts:
Junior setter Christie Johnson has moved up to No. 9 on the Maverick career charts with 1,736 career set assists. Johnson, who has earned North Central Conference setter of the week honors three times this season, leads the 2004 Mavericks with 1,219 assists and 42 service aces

Final 2004 NCC Statistical Rankings:
Overall
1. Team - Aces (2.06 sapg)
2. Team - Kills (14.91 kpg)
2. Amy McLeay - Kills (3.93 kpg)
2. Christie Johnson - Assists (12.19 apg)
3. Carlie Christensen - Hitting % (.335)
4. Chelsea Miller - Digs (4.57 dpg)
4. Christie Johnson - Aces (0.42 sapg)
5. Briana Ritter - Aces (0.39 sapg)
7. Jenny Rankin - Aces (0.36 sapg)
7. Carlie Christensen - Blocks (1.00 bpg)
7. Heather Hainline, Hitting % (.279)
11. Ashley Freeman - Hitting % (.248)
15. Julia McConahay - Aces (0.27 bpg)
15. Ashley Freeman - Blocks (0.73 bpg)

NCC Matches Only
2. Team - Kills (15.02 dpg)
2. Christie Johnson - Assists (12.47 apg)
2. Chelsea Miller - Digs (5.32 dpg)
3. Amy McLeay - Kills (4.00 kpg)
3. Carlie Christensen - Hitting % - (.284)
3. Christie Johnson - Aces (0.38 sapg)
7. Jenny Rankin - Aces (0.32 sapg)
7. Heather Hainline - Hitting % (.260)
8. Ashley Freeman - Hitting % - (.252)
9. Carlie Christensen - Aces (0.29 sapg)
10. Carlie Christensen - Blocks (0.95 bpg)
11. Brianna Ritter - Aces (0.27 sapg)
13. Ashley Freeman - Blocks (0.85 bpg)
15. Julia McConahay - Digs (3.38 dpg)
15. Jenny Rankin - Kills (2.66 kpg)

Probable Starters:
L - #10 Chelsea Miller (5-9, Jr., Aurora, Neb.)
"C/ Starting libero in every match in 2004
"C/ Tied career-high with 30 digs in win over Minnesota State on Nov. 13
"C/ Leads team with 4.57 digs per game
"C/ Ranks 2nd in the NCC in digs per game (5.32 dpg)
"C/ Recorded 20-or-more digs in 11 matches

OH - #16 Amy McLeay (6-0, Sr., Omaha, Neb.)
"C/ Leads team with 3.93 kills per game
"C/ Third in the NCC in kills per game (4.00)
"C/ NCC player of the week on Aug. 30 and Oct. 4
"C/ MVP of the North Alabama Classic
"C/ Has led the Mavericks in kills in 17 of 26 matches
"C/ Team leader with 14 double-doubles
"C/ Registered 20-or-more kills in eight matches

OH - #3 Jenny Rankin (6-0, Sr., Omaha, Neb.)
"C/ Second on the team with 2.50 kills per game
"C/ Third on the team with 0.36 service aces per game
"C/ Seventh in the NCC in service aces per game (0.32 sapg); 15th in kills (2.66 kpg)
"C/ Has 1,099 career kills, becoming 15th player in school history to join 1,000 kill club

MB - #17 Carlie Christensen (6-0,Fr., Omaha, Neb.)
"C/ Second on the team with .335 hitting percentage
"C/ Leads UNO with 1.00 blocks per game
"C/ Third on the squad with 2.45 kills per games
"C/ Third in the NCC with .284 hitting %; ranks 9th with 0.29 service aces per game; ranks 10th with 0.95 blocks per game
"C/ NCC player of the week on Sep. 7

MB - #8 Ashley Freeman (6-0, Jr., Council Bluffs, Iowa)
"C/ Fourth on the team with .248 hitting percentage
"C/ Averaging 2.41 kills and 0.72 blocks per game
"C/ Ranks 8th in the NCC with .252 hitting percentage; ranks 13th in blocks (0.85 bpg)

S - #1 Christie Johnson (5-8, Jr., Lincoln, Neb.)
"C/ Leads the team 12.19 assists per game
"C/ Ranks 2nd in the NCC with 12.47 assists and 3rd with 0.38 service aces per game
"C/ Team leader with 0.42 service aces per game
"C/ NCC setter of the week on Aug. 30, Oct. 4, and Oct. 18
"C/ All-tournament team at North Alabama Classic

RS - #11 Heather Hainline (6-2, Jr., Papillion, Neb.
"C/ Transfer from Wichita State
"C/ Averaging 1.94 kills and 0.63 blocks per game
"C/ Third on the team with .279 hitting percentage
"C/ Ranks 7th in the NCC in hitting percentage (.260)

Trio Named to NCC Academic Squad:
Junior Christie Johnson and seniors Julia McConahay and Jenny Rankin were named to the academic all-North Central Conference volleyball team in a vote by league sports information directors. Seniors Amy McLeay and Andrea Wegner earned honorable mention accolades.
Johnson (Lincoln, Neb.) holds a 3.789 cumulative GPA in business management. Rankin (North Platte, Neb.) has a 3.726 GPA in business/marketing. McConahay (North Platte, Neb.), who is the only two-time selection on the 16-member squad, has a 3.937 GPA in communications/public relations.

McConahay Earns Academic All-District Honor:
Senior defensive specialist Julia McConahay has been named to 2004 CoSida Academic All-District VII (College Division) first team by a vote of sports information directors. McConahay, who has compiled a 3.94 cumulative GPA in communications/public relations, will now advance to the Academic All-America ballot.
McConahay is a four-year starter for the Mavericks at three different positions. She is a two-time academic all-North Central Conference selection, as well.
College Division is for all institutions not in NCAA Division I. District VII includes all schools located in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve with a minimum cululative GPA of 3.20.

McLeay, Johnson Named to All-NCC First Team:
Junior setter Christie Johnson and senior outside hitter Amy McLeay were both named to the 2004 all-North Central Conference volleyball team in a vote by league coaches.
Johnson ranked second in the NCC in set assists (12.47 apg) and third in service aces (0.38 sapg). She currently ranks ninth on the Maverick career records chart with 1,736 career assists. Johnson leads the 2004 Mavericks with 1,219 assists and 42 service aces. She was named NCC setter of the week three times during the season and was on the all-tournament team at the North Alabama Classic.
McLeay, who earned honorable mention all-NCC honors last season, ranked second in the NCC with 4.00 kills per NCC game. McLeay leads this year's squad with 393 kills. She is second on the team with 306 digs. She was named NCC player of the week twice during the season. McLeay, who was MVP of the North Alabama Classic, has led the Mavericks in kills in 17 of 26 matches and is the team leader with 14 double-doubles.
Junior middle blocker Ashley Freeman and junior libero Chelsea Miller both earned honorable mention all-NCC accolades.