It wasn’t exactly the news the Bluejays were hoping to hear.

Creighton will host opening weekend but will not be among the top four national seeds, which would have created the possibility of two weekends at home.

The Bluejays play South Dakota in a first-round game at Sokol Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. The other first-round game in Omaha will be Florida State vs. Ole Miss at 4:30 p.m

The second round games at Sokol, in which Thursday’s winners will compete, will be played on Friday at 7 p.m

“I thought we might finish No. 6 (overall),” Creighton coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth said. “There were arguments that we could finish in the top four, but there were arguments why we couldn’t.”

One of those arguments is that Creighton hasn’t played as difficult a schedule as other teams.

“I think we can control what we can control,” Bernthal Booth said. “We have played one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country and think the Big East is a great league.”

The fifth-seeded Bluejays fell short of fourth place despite winning their 10th Big East tournament title on Saturday in the last 11 years. Creighton defeated Marquette at home 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 to win the championship.

The 29-2 Bluejays won all 20 league games and lost just three sets.

The watch party, held at DJ’s Dugout downtown, drew an estimated 200 people.

There was a moment of concern at the party when the top three seeds were announced. Instead of the No. 4 overall pick being announced, all that appeared on the big television screens was a question mark that made Creighton fans groan.

It was later announced that Louisville would be the No. 4 overall pick. The other three are Nebraska, Pitt and Penn State.

Penn State’s win over Nebraska on Friday night likely strengthened the Nittany Lions’ case for securing a spot in the top four.

Creighton outside hitter Norah Sis said she is looking forward to the tournament. The Bluejays will compete in the Penn State Regional.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “We’ve been waiting for this part of the season since last December.”

Bernthal Booth received more good news when she saw that Northern Iowa made the tournament. Her daughter Reese, an Elkhorn North graduate, is a freshman for the Panthers.

“Obviously I was pretty excited to see Reese and her team,” the coach said. “She will relish the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament.”