The Carthage College women's volleyball team (30-6, 7-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked ninth in the Nov. 8 American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll and first in the Nov. 3 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional poll, opens play in the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship on Friday, Nov. 11 in a 3 p.m. quarterfinal match versus Edgewood College (21-13) at the Washington University Field House in St. Louis, Mo. 
 
Also on Carthage's side of the regional bracket, CCIW-member and No. 16 Elmhurst College (30-5) takes on Cornell College (28-5) at 12:30 p.m.  In the other quarterfinal matches, No. 2 Washington (Mo., 32-1) plays Webster University (19-12) at 8 p.m., and No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater (26-7) takes on No. 15 the University of Chicago (29-5) at 5:30 p.m.  The regional continues with two semifinal matches on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 4:30 and 7 p.m., with the regional-championship match getting underway on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.
 
This is Carthage's eighth NCAA appearances and seventh in a row.  The Lady Reds qualified for the regional championship in 1990 and again from 2005 to 2010.  After bowing out in the quarterfinals in both 2005 and 2006, the 2007, 2008 and 2009 squads reached the regional-championship match.  The 2007 team lost to Washington University (Mo.), 3-1, at the Carthage Physical Education Center.  The 2008 team fell to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 3-2, at the Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh, Wis., and the 2009 squad lost to Washington University (Mo.), 3-0, in St. Louis, Mo.  The 2010 squad lost in the regional semifinals at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.

Looking at the NCAA Regional:  Paul Schlomer coaches (77-113, 6 years) the Edgewood College Eagles (21-13), who are making their first-ever NCAA appearance.  Edgewood won the Northern Athletics Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament with a 3-2 decision over Dominican University (Ill.).  The Lady Reds lead the series with the Eagles, 6-0…Julie Hall (464-224, 18 years) coaches the No. 16 Elmhurst College Bluejays (30-5), who fell to Carthage, 3-2, in the title match of the CCIW Women's Volleyball Tournament.  Elmhurst leads the Carthage series, 33-27, with the two teams splitting a pair of regular-season matches in 2011.  The Bluejays are making their 16th NCAA appearance and won both 1983 and 1985 national titles…Jeff Meeker (166-134, 9 years at Cornell/227-203, 13 years overall) coaches the Cornell College Rams (28-5), who won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament, 3-0, over Central College.  Carthage leads the Cornell, series, 2-0.  Cornell, making its first-ever NCAA appearance, extended its current winning streak to 14 matches in the Central contest, and the Rams will re-enter the Midwest Conference next fall…Vanessa Walby (106-48, 4 years) coaches the No. 15 University of Chicago Maroons (29-5), who finished third in the University Athletic Association Women's Volleyball Tournament behind Washington (Mo.) and Emory University.  The Lady Reds lead the series with the Maroons, 13-2, with Carthage winning a 3-2 contest on Sept. 21 at the Ratner Athletics Center.  Chicago is making its second and second in a row NCAA appearance…the No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks (26-7) are coached by Stacy Boudreau (226-49, 7 years at Wisconsin-Whitewater/296-86, 10 years overall) won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament, 3-1, over Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  Wisconsin-Whitewater leads the Carthage series, 42-28, but the Lady Reds won a pair of matches over the Warhawks this season.  Wisconsin-Whitewater is making its 24th NCAA appearance, with the Warhawks winning national titles in both 2002 and 2005…Merry Graf (215-117, 11 years at Webster/269-205, 16 years overall) coaches the Webster University Gorloks (19-12), who won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament with a 3-0 sweep over Greenville College.  Carthage leads the Webster series, 2-0.  The Gorloks are making their fifth NCAA appearance…the No. 2 Washington (Mo., 32-1) Bears are coached by Rich Luenemann 457-57, 13 years at Washington/1,037-319, 31 years overall).  Washington (Mo.) is making its 25th NCAA appearance, and the Bears won national titles in 2003, 2007 and 2009.  Washington (Mo.) leads the series with Carthage, 5-0, and eliminated the Lady Reds from regional play in both the 2007 and 2009 regional-championship matches.