Nov. 8, 2011

STANFORD, Calif.- Back in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in school history and making its fourth appearance in the last five years, Stanford (17-3, 6-0 NorPac) will square off against Duke (13-7, 2-3 ACC) when opening-round action gets underway this weekend.

The game will be played in Norfolk, Va., where Old Dominion, the tournament's No. 2 seed, will serve as the host institution and face 15th- seeded Ohio State in the first round. Game times have not yet been determined.

Stanford was awarded the tournament's No. 7 seed, and will serve as the higher seed for the first time in school history. Duke has been tabbed the No. 10 seed.

The latest edition of the Kookaburra/NFHCA National Coaches poll shows Duke ranked No. 6 and Stanford at No. 10. Old Dominion is No. 2 and Ohio State is No. 15.

Despite suffering a loss in the NorPac Championship title game, Stanford was selected as an at-large team for the first time in program history thanks to an impressive overall body of work. The Cardinal tied a school record with 17 victories and was one of seven Division I teams with three losses or less. Stanford ended the year ranked No. 7 in the final edition of the RPI, and had been ranked as high as No. 4 and among the top-10 for most of the year. Stanford tallied six top-20 wins, while its three losses came against top-20 teams.

Stanford is 0-10 all-time in NCAA Tournament competition. The Cardinal most recently qualified for the postseason last year, falling 3-1 to North Carolina in a first round match after defeating Massachusetts 2-1 in an NCAA Play-In game. Stanford also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2007 and 2009.

This year's field includes 16 teams (five automatic bids, eight at-large berths and three play-in winners) competing in a single-elimination format. The 2011 NCAA Championship is slated for Nov. 18-20 in Louisville, Ky., and will be hosted by Louisville.