Kansas State will open the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Lincoln, Neb., the same place the Wildcats pulled off a historic upset of Nebraska in reaching the Sweet 16 of last year’s tourney.

The Wildcats, 21-8, are scheduled to play Northern Iowa at 4:30 p.m. in the first round at the NU Coliseum. Nebraska, the No. 4 overall seed in the tournament, plays Maryland-Eastern Shore in the other match with the winners playing Friday for a spot in the regional semifinals.

Last season, Kansas State’s second-round win over No. 2 Nebraska prevented the Huskers from reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1993.

This is the Wildcats’ 14th NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth under coach Suzie Fritz in 12 seasons. The match will be streamed free online at huskers.com.

NCAA Division II tournament

Rockhurst plays top-seeded and host Indianapolis in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Hawks, 28-6, won the Great Lakes Valley Conference and are in the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2005.

Four Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association teams are in the Central Regional in St. Paul, Minn., starting Thursday. Washburn plays Nebraska-Kearney at noon, Truman plays Southwest Minnesota State at 2:30 p.m. and Central Missouri faces Minnesota-Duluth at 5 p.m.