The Warriors were ranked 30th when the final NAIA national poll was released Tuesday. That is good enough to earn L-C the 16th (and final) at-large berth into the national tournament, coach Brian Orr said.

The 32-team bracket will be announced this afternoon. The tournament begins a week from today at Jackson, Tenn.

The Warriors were helped by a lack of upsets in the conference tournaments. Of the 11 tournaments, eight of them were won by the top seeds. So few high-ranked teams needed an at-large berth to make the tournament.

Orr said that he was "a little surprised" that his team made the field.

"It gives us another week and a half of practice," he said. "We've got a senior, Kendra (West) -- it's nice for her to go back for a third time. For our younger players, it's always a great experience. Just getting them back there gives us a better chance next year."

This will be the Warriors' ninth appearance in 10 years. Their only miss in that string was last season.

-- Matt Baney