Rockhurst is returning to the NCAA Division II Volleyball Championships for the 14th time since 1998. The Hawks, 20-11, will face the 23rd-ranked Ferris State Bulldogs, 23-4, in an NCAA Division II Midwest Regional first-round match Thursday at 5 p.m. at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Midwest Regional winner will advance to the Division II national quarterfinals, Dec. 12-14, in Tampa, Florida.

RU vs. FERRIS STATE: Rockhurst and Ferris State will be meeting for the seventh time. Ferris State owns a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. All three of the Hawks' wins came in the NCAA Midwest Regional in 2015 (at Ferris State), 2018 (at Drury University) and 2019 (at Lewis University).

FOLLOW LIVE: Live internet statistics and a live video webcast will be offered by Ferris State for all matches at the Midwest Regional. All links will be available on the Rockhurst Athletics web site.

GLVC WEST DIVISION CHAMPIONS: The Hawks captured the GLVC West Division crown with a 13-5 conference record. Rockhurst has won five GLVC West Division championships since 2013.

2021 RU ROSTER: Rockhurst's 2021 NCAA roster includes six seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and one freshman representing seven different states. Twelve members of the team are from Missouri (5), Kansas (4) and Nebraska (3). The other four student-athletes are from Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Texas and Ohio.

TEAM LEADERS: Averi Vomastic leads the team in kills (366) and points (428). Justice Wingate is the team leader in blocks (128). Maureen Reilly has posted a team-high 575 digs. Gabbie Inman tops the team with 640 assists.
  
STAT LEADERS: Four Rockhurst players rank among the top 10 statistically in the GLVC. Averi Vomastic ranks eighth in kills and fifth points. Morgan Conner ranks eighth in hitting percentage. Justice Wingate stands second in blocks. Maureen Reilly is third in digs. Vomastic (680) and Wingate (597) both have over 500 career kills. Reilly has amassed 994 digs in her career.

ALL-GLVC HONORS: Three Rockhurst players received All-Conference honors from the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Senior middle hitter Justice Wingate earned First Team honors. Senior outside hitter Averi Vomastic and sophomore libero Maureen Reilly both garnered Second Team accolades.

HEAD COACH: Trent Jones has guided the Hawks to a 32-18 record in his first two seasons at Rockhurst. Jones previously spent nine seasons as the associate head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Jones also was the head coach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis from 2008-10. The Tritons posted a 64-28 overall record and a 35-10 conference mark.

NCAA PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Hawks have a 22-13 record in 13 previous appearances in the NCAA Tournament and are returning to the NCAA Championships for the seventh consecutive time. Rockhurst has reached the regional finals 10 times since 1998. The Hawks defeated Ferris State in the 2015 Midwest Regional finals, downed Lewis in the 2017 Midwest Regional finals, and swept Hillsdale in the 2019 Midwest Regional finals. Rockhurst also reached the regional finals in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2014 and 2018.