State sports briefs

UCA heading west for NCAA Tournament

The University of Central Arkansas will meet Southern California at 9 p.m. Central on Friday in the NCAA Tournament.

The Sugar Bears (27-4) earned the Southland Conference’s automatic bid by winning the conference tournament with victories over McNeese State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Abilene Christian. The Trojans (22-9) earned an at-large berth after finishing tied for second in the Pac-12.

The winner will meet LSU (20-9) or San Diego (24-4) at 9 p.m. Sunday.

ATU, Harding players named to all-region

Arkansas Tech University’s Amanda Milnick and Lexie Johnston, and Harding University’s Zoe Hardin were named to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region Team.

Milnick and Johnston led the Golden Suns to an undefeated regular season. Arkansas Tech will meet Southwest Minnesota State in the NCAA Central Regional at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Milnick was also named player of the year and setter of the year in the Great American Conference. Johnston led the GAC with a .401 hitting percentage.

Hardin, a junior middle blocker, led Harding by averaging 2.93 kills per set and 1.25 blocks per set and had a .318 hitting percentage.

Hardin led the Lady Bisons to a 27-6 overall record and a second-place finish in the GAC with a 13-3 conference record.