The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee has announced sites for regional competition in the 2006 championship and finals sites for the 2008 and 2009 championships.

The four regionals in the 2006 championship will be December 8-9 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida; the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu; Gregory Gym in Austin, Texas; and the Bank of America Arena in Seattle.

The Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska, already had been selected as the venue for the national semifinals and final December 14 and 16.

 “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring our regional championships to these four outstanding sites,” said volleyball committee Chair Kelly Andrews. “The committee felt this year’s selections were capable of enhancing the student-athlete experience through the excitement and enthusiasm of their fans as well as take the regionals to the next level.”

As for future finals sites, the committee selected Omaha again for 2008 and the St. Pete Times Forum in St. Petersburg, Florida, for 2009.

“Landing the 2008 championship is a testament to our community and its appetite for good collegiate sports,” said Roger Dixon, president and CEO of Qwest Center Omaha. “The people in Omaha and throughout Nebraska have been loyal supporters of volleyball, and we are proud to be part of the cooperative effort responsible for bringing the 2008 event to them.”

Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, said, “We look forward to welcoming the student-athletes, coaches and fans for the event’s first trip to the Sunshine State in December of 2009.”

The 2007 finals already had been awarded to ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California.