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ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College hosts its first NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, welcoming in seven other schools to St. Augustine Nov. 30-Dec. 2 with a trip to the NCAA Division II elite eight on the line. All matches will be played at Flagler Gymnasium.

In addition to hosting, the Saints also achieved the top seed in the regional for the first time. Flagler (24-3) captured the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Saints feature the PBC Player of the Year in senior Sara Davis as well as the PBC Freshman of the Year in Karlie Redfern. Davis is ranked No. 8 in the nation in hitting percentage with a .406 mark. She was an AVCA All-America third-team selection last year. Redfern is third in the PBC in aces (40) and aces per set (0.42). Flagler is making its eighth trip to the NCAA Championships and it won the regional title in 2009 and 2011. The Saints are 11-7 all-time in NCAA postseason play.

Wingate (25-3), the No. 2 seed, is making its 12^th consecutive appearance at regionals. The Bulldogs finished in second place in the South Atlantic Conference during the regular season and then lost in the semifinal round of the league tournament. Wingate is led by the SAC Player of the Year, Katie Bludau. The senior outside hitter is 17^th in the country in kills per set (4.26) and 20^th in points per set (4.77). She is third in the conference in kills (358) and fifth in hitting percentage (.304). Wingate is making its 14^th appearance in the NCAA Championships. The Bulldogs are 17-13 in NCAA postseason action. Wingate won regional titles in 2010, 2012-14.

The University of South Carolina Aiken (25-5), the No. 3 seed, makes its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA postseason. The Pacers finished second in the PBC regular season and lost in the conference tournament semifinal. USC Aiken features the PBC Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year Rebecca Martinez. She is fourth in all of Division II in digs per set (6.95) and ninth in total digs (702). Martinez earned first-team all-conference honors. USC Aiken is making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Championships. The Pacers won the regional title last year and they hold a 3-5 record in NCAA tournament play.

Anderson University (27-4) won the SAC regular season title with a gaudy 19-1 record. The Trojans were a perfect 12-0 at home. Anderson features a trio of first-team All-SAC members: Marissa Mitter, Rachel Burts and Emily Conlin. Conlin is sixth in the nation in assists per set (11.92). Mitter leads the SAC in kills (393) and Burts is second in hitting percentage (.374). Todd Hay was selected as the SAC's Coach of the Year. Anderson is making its fourth NCAA Championship appearance, and its first since 2014. The Trojans are 1-3 all-time in the NCAA postseason.

The No. 5 seed is Queens University of Charlotte (23-7), which is making its second consecutive NCAA postseason. The Royals advanced to the regional final last year where they lost to USC Aiken. The SAC Tournament champions feature two all-conference players in Rebecca Cochran and Sydney Kunz. Kunz is 17^th in the country in assists (1,260) and 22^nd in assists per set (11.15). Cochran is fifth in the SAC in kills per set (3.15). The Royals are making their third appearance at the NCAA Championships. Queens is 2-2 all-time in NCAA postseason play.   

Peach Belt Conference Tournament runner-up Georgia College (23-7) is the No. 6 seed. The Bobcats are making their first-ever NCAA appearance since starting the program in 2013. Georgia College features the PBC Setter of the Year in Kayla Brockway and the Coach of the Year in Gretchen Krumdieck. Brockway leads the PBC in assists (1,110) and is second in assists per set (10.57). She is seventh in aces (33). Ebony Powers is fifth in the PBC in kills per set (3.10) and eighth in kills (288).

Carson-Newman University (17-14) earned the last at-large bid as it advanced all the way to the SAC Championship match before falling to Queens University of Charlotte. The Eagles won the southeast regional in 2015. Carson-Newman features All-SAC first-team selection Morgan Ballard. She is second in the country in digs (790) and third in digs per set (6.99). Carson-Newman is making its seventh NCAA Championship appearance. The Eagles are 6-6 in NCAA postseason play.

Barton College (23-7) won the Conference Carolinas Tournament as well as the North Division of the conference. The Lady Bulldogs were a perfect 15-0 at home this season and have won 20 of their last 21 matches. Barton has yet to lose a set in the month of November. The Lady Bulldogs had three all-conference players: Kaytlin Elkins, Courtney Wiseman and Angelica Acevedo. Elkins was selected as the league's freshman of the year. She is 10^th in the country in kills per set (4.41) and 11^th in points per set (4.97). Ashley Owen is 16^th in aces per set (0.53). This is Barton's second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. The Lady Bulldogs are 0-1 in NCAA postseason play.    

Tournament schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 30
Match 1: Carson-Newman vs. Wingate, Noon
Match 2: Georgia College vs. USC Aiken, 2:30 p.m.
Match 3: Queens University of Charlotte vs. Anderson (S.C.), 5 p.m.
Match 4: Barton at Flagler, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 1
Match 5: Winner of M1 vs. Winner of M2, 5 p.m.
Match 6: Winner of M3 vs. Winner of M4, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2
Match 7: Winner of M5 vs. Winner of M6, 7 p.m.
(All matches at Flagler Gymnasium, St. Augustine, Fla.)