#BIGEASTvb Minute – Creighton Ready For NCAA Regional Semifinal vs. Michigan
NEW YORK – Creighton, the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion, is the lone team left standing from the BIG EAST as the Bluejays return to action with their second-straight NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance on Friday. Creighton will face No. 12 seed Michigan, ranked 17th nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3 in the Austin, Texas Regional.
Maria Taylor and Tiffany Greene are on the call.
The winner of Friday’s match will face the winner of the other semifinal No. 4 seed Texas vs. No. 13 seed BYU on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
Michigan is 24-10 on the season and advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 2012 with wins over American, 3-0, and No. 19 Oregon, 3-1, last weekend at home. Friday will be the first meeting between Creighton and Michigan.
Creighton has represented the conference twice in as many years in the Round of 16. Prior to the Bluejays making the Regional Semifinal in 2015, St. John’s was the last team to make it in 2007. St. John’s lost in five sets to USC, 27-30, 22-30, 30-26, 30-24, 10-15 (Dec. 7) in the regional held in Gainesville, Fla. USC was the No. 5 seed. Last year, Creighton lost to then-no. 1 seed USC, 3-1 (25-27,25-16,25-16,25-18).
Creighton, riding a 22-game winning streak into Friday’s match, is one of two teams from non-BCS schools to make the Sweet 16. Creighton defeated Northern Iowa and No. 4 Kansas en route to their second Sweet 16 appearance. Jaali Winters averaged 4.70 kills and 2.60 digs per set in the wins. Freshman Brittany Witt averaged 5.30 digs per set and led CU with three aces, while Lydia Dimke averaged 11.60 assists and 2.20 digs per set.
NCAA Volleyball Regional Schedule
Semifinal Matchup: No. 21 Creighton vs. No. 17 Michigan (No. 12 seed)
Date & Time: Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. (ET)/5:30 p.m. (CT)
Location: Austin, Texas (Gregory Gym)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Watch: ESPN3
Final Matchup: Winner of No. 21 Creighton/No. 17 Michigan vs. Winner of No. 10 BYU at No. 5 Texas
Date & Time: Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. (ET)/7 p.m. (CT)
Watch: ESPNU
Texas Regional Tournament Central