ARCATA — For the second straight year and also for only the second time in program history, the Humboldt State men's and women's basketball teams will both participate in the NCAA Division II postseason.
During the NCAA's selection show Sunday evening, the HSU men learned they'll be traveling to Bellingham, Wash. for the West Region Championships, while the women's team will be competing just down the road in Seattle. Western Washington University, on the men's side, and Seattle Pacific, the No. 1 seeded women's program, will host the respective events.
Humboldt State's women, the No. 7 seed, are scheduled to face No. 2 seed UC San Diego on Friday. UCSD claimed the CCAA regular season championship, but was knocked out of the league tournament by the Lumberjacks.
The NCAA postponed its decision on seeding the men's field after Pacific West Conference games were postponed last weekend because of a tsunami warning effecting Hawaii. The seeds will be announced after the final PacWest games are played Monday evening.
Coach Joddie Gleason's women's team, 19-10 overall, advanced to the postseason by claiming the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament championship this week. Coach Tom Wood's men, 22-7 overall, secured an at-large bid after earning a share of the CCAA regular season title.
For Wood, the appearance marks the ninth time in the past 10 years and 12th time overall he's taken the Lumberjacks to the NCAA Division II Championships. Wood has announced that he will retire following the season after 29 years guiding the program.
Gleason's program is making its second straight appearance in the NCAA postseason, qualifying for the third time in her six years as head coach. After struggling through a four-game losing streak that ended their regular season, the Jacks earned big wins over Cal State Monterey Bay, UC San Diego and Chico State to grab the CCAA crown.
NCAA Division II West Region Women's Championships
March 12, 13 and 15 at Seattle, Wash.
Game times TBA
No. 1 Seattle Pacific vs. No. 8 Hawaii Pacific
No. 4 Alaska Anchorage vs. No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona
No. 3 Western Washington vs. No. 6 Chico State
No. 2 UC San Diego vs. No. 7 Humboldt State
NCAA Division II West Region Men's Championships
March March 12, 13 and 15 at Bellingham, Wash.
Game times and pairings TBA
Western Washington
BYU Hawaii
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal State San Bernardino
Central Washington
Dixie State
Humboldt State
Seattle Pacific