INDIANAPOLIS – The Francis Marion University volleyball squad ranked eighth in the Southeast Region when the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Committee unveiled the first-ranked order of the regional rankings on Wednesday (Nov. 12).

The NCAA regional rankings determine the participants for the NCAA Tournament. The Southeast Region consists of the Conference Carolinas (CC), the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC). All three conference tournament champions receive an automatic bid, with the five remaining teams in the final regional rankings receiving at-large bids.

The Patriots closed out the regular season with a 21-9 overall record while securing the East Division and the No. 1 seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Francis Marion will be idle for nearly two weeks before competing in the semifinals of the league tournament on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. in Bristol, Tenn.

Wingate sits atop the Southeast Regional rankings with an impressive 24-1 overall record while ranking No. 17 nationally in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. Three additional SAC institutions followed in Lenoir-Rhyne (19-5), Anderson (S.C.) (19-5), and Carson-Newman (21-4). Flagler (18-11) of the Peach Belt Conference rounded out the top five in this week's rankings.

Augusta (22-7), Lander (17-8), Francis Marion (20-9), USC Aiken (14-13), and Converse (20-7) complete the regional poll.

The Patriots sit eighth in the RPI while holding a 4-5 record against regionally ranked programs.

Note, rankings, and records are reflected through games as of Sunday, Nov. 9.