MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s and women’s teams each earned bids to the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament on Tuesday. The Bearcat men are the Central Region’s No. 1 team and will host No. 4 on Southwest Baptist at Frank Grube Courts in Maryville, Mo. The Norhtwest women will face Augustana University in Bolivar, Mo., with the winner of that match taking on the winner of Central Oklahoma and host Southwest Baptist. Match dates and times will be released at a later time.

The Bearcat women finished the year at 12-12, advancing to the MIAA semifinals. This is the second straight year the Northwest women have qualified for NCAA play and the 17th time overall. This will be the first meeting in NCAA play between the Bearcats and Augustana. The two teams met earlier this season in St. Joseph, Mo., with the Vikings taking a 5-2 decision on March 6.

Northwest’s men captured the MIAA Tournament and were co-regular season champions, going 19-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Bearcats were 6-0 at home and entered the tournament with the ITA’s No. 12 national ranking. This will be the 19th NCAA tournament selection for the Northwest men and the 11th straight year, dating back to 2006. Northwest is 2-0 all time vs. SBU in NCAA play. Southwest Baptist beat Northwest in the regular season, 5-4, back on April 16. But Northwest won, 5-0, last weekend in the MIAA Championship match.

— Northwest Athletics —