The Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee focused its recent meeting on increasing attendance at first- and second-round sites of the tournament.

National office staff members and the American Volleyball Coaches Association are working with the committee to develop best practices that can help preliminary-round hosts boost their crowds.

The biggest obstacle the non-predetermined-sites face is the short amount of time they have to promote the event. The championship bracket is announced on a Sunday and first-round competition begins either Thursday or Friday at 16 campus sites.

“You can’t really wait until the Monday the week of the event to begin promotions,” said Division I Volleyball Committee Chair Marie Robbins, an associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Alabama. “You have to raise awareness throughout the course of the season.”

Committee members say one way to do that is to follow the lead of institutions accustomed to bidding on host opportunities. Some in fact incorporate the option of purchasing NCAA tournament first- and second-round tickets into season-ticket packages.

The committee notifies prospective bidders in early October, and bids must be submitted by the first week of November.

Robbins said institutions should let their fans know that they have submitted a bid and arrange for a pre-order system for ticket sales during the season that could be activated once hosts are determined.

Another approach is simply to market the women’s volleyball program more during the regular season, Robbins said. That momentum can extend to the championship season.

Committee members also are noting success stories. For example, Dayton drew crowds of 1,864 in the first round and 2,057 for their second-round match last year.

“We have to balance traditional sites that draw well with new host sites that are ready to step up,” Robbins said.

Committee members are not as concerned with attendance at the finals. Last year’s championship at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, for example, attracted the second-highest total attendance for the semifinals and final at 26,679 fans. Only the 34,223 that filled Omaha’s Qwest Center for the 2006 finals was higher.

The committee expects to announce regional hosts for the 2008 and 2009 championships in about a month.