After more than 18 months, the BYU men's volleyball program will finally learn its fate.

The NCAA has been reviewing alleged violations by the program since 2006 and will finally release its findings this afternoon. A news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MT) that will reveal, if any, penalties for the program.

BYU is the No. 1-ranked team in America in this week's CBS Sports Network/AVCA poll, posting a 16-1 record so far in 2008.

On Sept. 1, 2006, BYU men's volleyball coach Tom Peterson abruptly resigned his position. That same day, BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe confirmed an NCAA review into the volleyball program was being conducted. Assistant coaches Shawn Patchell and Ryan Millar took over the team on an interim basis as co-head coaches for the 2007 season. Last summer, Millar left to re-join the U.S. Olympic team and Patchell was retained as the interim head coach.

The review could stem from BYU's recruitment of international athletes, a slippery slope when it comes to compliance. In April 2004, UC-Santa Barbara coach Ken Preston led a group of college coaches in turning over information to the NCAA questioning the eligibility of BYU middle blocker Victor Batista (Dominican Republic) and outside hitter Joe Hillman. A week later those players were cleared to play by the NCAA, but other coaches, including UCLA's Al Scates, continued to accuse the BYU program of improprieties.

One month later, BYU defeated Long Beach State in a thrilling five-game match for the NCAA title, led by Batista and Brazilians Fernando Pessoa and Carlos Moreno, who was named the NCAA Player of the Year.

In 2006, BYU welcomed Cuban defector Yosleyder Cala to the program. Cala, who played for the Cuban national team, had to sit out the first eight matches of the year as mandated by the NCAA. He left BYU last summer to play professionally in Puerto Rico.

Lewis University and Hawaii had to vacate national titles won in 2002 and 2003, respectively, when the NCAA uncovered recruiting violations, all involving foreign players.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com.