HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M will take on No. 11 Tennessee Friday in the first round of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in Bloomington, Ind.

The Bulldogs (16-10) will be making their fourth straight appearance in the championship and 10th in the last 11 years. They earned an automatic bid after winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament a week ago.

"It's an awesome accomplishment and I don't think people realize that," A&M coach Nedra Brown said Sunday after watching the selection show with her team on campus. "I don't care how many times you go it's still awesome."

Tennessee (24-6) received an at-large bid and will be a formidable opponent, Brown said.

"You're facing another type of opponent when you get to the NCAAs," she said.

The other matchup has Miami, Fla., (23-8) taking on Indiana (21-11). The winners will advance to the second round on Saturday for the right to move on to the NCAA Regional in Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 10-11.

While A&M has failed to get out of the first round, senior Courtney Jenkins says the Bulldogs won't be in awe of the Volunteers.

"The game is a lot faster and the girls are a lot more fundamentally sound, but we do the same things they do," said Jenkins, who will be participating in the tournament for the fourth straight year. "We go to practice, we serve the ball and we hit the ball just like they do.

"We just need to be mentally ready to play. Our job is to go out and play."

In years past, Brown has challenged her team to win a match. After failing to get out of the first round each of the last three years, she says she will change her approach this time around.

"We need to redefine our goals," said Brown, whose team had its best showing last year against Florida State before losing 25-10, 25-19 and 25-10. "I don't think a (SWAC) team has gotten past 20 points. We scored 19 in a set last year, so it's hard to get to 20. We can't talk about winning a match because we have never won a set.

"For us to win a set, it would be monumental. I think if we mess around and win a set, it might turn the tide and we might win two sets. We're going to prepare and go and see how we do."

NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship
Bloomington, Ind.

Friday

Alabama A&M (16-10) vs. No. 11 Tennessee (24-6)
Miami, Fla. (23-8) at Indiana (21-11)

Saturday

Championship