Nov. 13, 2006

MILWAUKEE - After recording a 10-4 record in the BIG EAST during the regular season, the Marquette volleyball team earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament and will play No. 3 Pittsburgh, Friday, November 17 at 10 a.m. ET, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. MU, in a four-team tie for third in the league with Notre Dame, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, earned the sixth seed due to trailing in the tiebreaker procedures.

"The four-way tie shows the strength in the middle of the BIG EAST," said head coach Pati Rolf. "Pittsburgh is a good opponent for us as we match up very well. They have strong outside hitters and run a good defense in the middle. Our players are communicating strong and our front and backcourt are working together more consistently.

Pittsburg earned the No. 3 seed having beaten Marquette, Cincinnati and Notre Dame during the regular season. The Golden Eagles, Bearcats and Fighting Irish, all with 1-1 records against each other, advanced to the second tiebreaker that gives advantage to the team with the largest percentage of league games won. Cincinnati earned the fourth seed with a .694 (34 of 49 games won) winning percentage, just ahead of Notre Dame with a .689 (31 of 45 games won) winning percentage and Marquette with a .630 (34 of 54 games on) winning percentage. By defeating the Golden Eagles earlier this season, the Fighting Irish were then awarded the fifth seed.

Marquette lost to Pittsburgh, 3-2 (30-25, 25-30, 30-14, 23-30, 13-15) at the Al McGuire Center, Oct. 20. Four Golden Eagles tallied double figures in kills in the match, including junior Kimberley Todd who registered 19, and senior Jamie Mueller who recorded 17.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Friday, November 17
Game 1 - No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Marquette at 10 a.m. ET
Game 2 - No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 7 Connecticut at 12:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 - No. 1 St. John's vs. No. 8 USF at 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 4 - No. 4 Cincinnati vs. No. 5 Notre Dame at 6 p.m. ET

Saturday, November 18
Game 5 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 at 1 p.m. ET
Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, November 19
Game 7 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 at 4 p.m. ET