The Southeast Missouri State University Sundancers finished seventh in the 1998 NCAA Division I Dance Team National Championships last weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla.

It is the first national ranking in the 25-year history of the Sundancers.

"This is a great honor for these talented, young women and the university," said Sundancer Coach Suzanne Vaughan.

"Placing seventh in the nation is a huge accomplishment for any team, but it is particularly good for a young team at their first national competition," she said.

The squad was ranked above 17 other national qualifiers, including the University of Massachusetts, Harvard and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

This year's Division I national champion was Stephen F. Austin State University from Nacogdoches, Texas.

Southeast was the only OVC school to qualify for the final round. Tennessee State University received a bid to the national competition, but failed to place in the top 10.

The Sundancers had to practice on the hotel's patio at night because of the competition's tight schedule and lack of indoor practice space.

"Our practice area was outdoors on the beach front. It was very different from the dance studio in Parker Hall," said Brandi Loucks, a freshman from Chaffee.

Tryouts for the 1998-1999 Sundancer team will be held April 18 at Houck Field House. For registration information, contact the athletics office at 651-2227.