For the second time in program history, the Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Head coach Amy Woerth and the Bearcats earned the No. 3 seed in the Central Region and will take on No. 6 seed University of Nebraska-Kearney in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament Thursday in Warrensburg, Mo. The winner of the Northwest-UNK match will take on the winner of the No. 2 seed St. Cloud State vs. No. 7 seed Concordia-St. Paul.

"I'm so proud and happy for our players," Woerth said. "They've put in so much hard work and sacrifice to get here. I'm excited to be in the tournament and to see our team rise to the occasion."
 
Central Missouri is the top seed in the region and will play host to No. 8 seed Arkansas Tech. Winona State captured the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 seed Washburn.
 
Central Region – Warrensburg, Mo.
Thursday, Dec. 2
No. 6 seed Nebraska-Kearney (25-6) vs. No. 3 seed Northwest Missouri State (26-5), 12 p.m.
No. 7 seed Concordia-St. Paul (22-8) vs. No. 2 seed St. Cloud State (27-4), 2:30 p.m.
No. 8 seed Arkansas Tech (22-7) vs. No. 1 seed Central Missouri (28-3), 5 p.m.
No. 5 seed Washburn (26-5) vs. No. 4 seed Winona State (28-4), 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 3
Match No. 1 Winner vs. Match No. 2 Winner, 5 p.m.
Match No. 3 Winner vs. Match No. 4 Winner, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 4
Central Region Championship, 7 p.m.
 
Northwest is ranked No. 4 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll. The Bearcats have produced a record of 26-5 this season. Northwest's losses have all come against teams that have qualified for the NCAA Tournament – Central Missouri (three times), Nebraska-Kearney and Michigan Tech.
 
Northwest's only other previous trip to the NCAA Tournament came at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Northwest earned the No. 7 seed in the South Central Region that also took place in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
Northwest's NCAA Tournament History
L, 3-0 vs. Washburn (Nov. 18, 2010)