HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University volleyball team found out Sunday that it will travel to 19th ranked Ohio State next weekend to face off with the Buckeyes in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.

The match is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 2, but no time had been set at the time of this release.

&#8220We are very excited to be preparing for an opponent that I've respected for so long in the sport of volleyball,” Marshall head coach Mitch Jacobs said. &#8220We're also excited because we have a good team headed to play them and hope we can overcome all their experience and bring it to them.”

The Thundering Herd learned of its NCAA destination Sunday afternoon as the team and supporters gathered to watch the 2005 NCAA Volleyball Tournament Selection Show on ESPNews.

Marshall is currently 26-5 and earned an automatic bid into the big dance by claiming the Conference USA title in Houston two weeks ago with three thrilling 3-2 wins.

Ohio State enters the NCAA Tournament with a record of 21-8 overall and is ranked No. 19 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Marshall would be No. 30 based on its number of votes if the rankings extended beyond 25. The Buckeyes are one of six schools from the Big Ten to make it into the NCAA Tournament. Marshall is the only team from Conference USA to make the field of 64.

&#8220We're very excited and confident going in,” Marshall senior setter Katie Stein said. &#8220It was fun to see our name get put up on the board and to see who we're going to play. Ohio State is a very good team, but we think we have a good chance if we go out and play the way we're capable of playing.”

This is Marshall's first NCAA appearance since 1995 when the Herd lost 3-0 to Georgia. It is only the second time Marshall has ever been to the NCAA. Marshall is currently riding a 12-match winning streak, its longest in school history.

Ohio State leads the all-time series with Marshall 3-1, with the last meeting coming in 1977.