MARIETTA, Ohio – The two-time defending Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference and Dad Vail champion Marietta College women's rowing team is expected to make its second straight NCAA Division III Championship appearance in 2012.

The Pioneers await official word on if they will represent the Mid-Atlantic Region as an at-large entry to the NCAA Division III Championship May 25-26. The event takes place on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday (May 14) on www.ncaa.com.

Fans are invited to join Head Coach Kelly Harris and her squad for a Pizza party as they watch the live webcast inside the Board of Trustee Conference Room of Ban Johnson Arena. Festivities begin at 6:45 p.m.

This will be Marietta's third NCAA appearance in women's rowing. The Pioneers rowed in the 1999 NCAA Championship when it was an event that combined NCAA Division I, II and III teams into one category. The championship was split into three championships and by division in 2002.

The 2012 NCAA Division III Women's Rowing Championship will feature six teams and each team is required to field two boats of eight rowers and a coxswain. Two at-large Eights are also selected. A year ago, Marietta's varsity 8+ shell was one of the two at-large Eights selected.

Marietta's varsity 8+ crew made history this weekend winning the first back-to-back Dad Vail gold medals in program history. The Pioneers' second varsity 8+ shell finished fourth in the same race missing the bronze medal by just two seconds.