NIVC Tournament Field

ST. LOUIS, MO – The MVC will have three teams compete in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), tournament organizers announced Sunday night.  Drake, Southern Illinois and Valparaiso were each selected to compete in the event. 

The three programs join UNI in the postseason as the Panthers will represent the MVC in the NCAA Tournament field this week, bringing the total of Valley volleyball teams in the postseason to four. 

Drake earned a spot in the NIVC field after advancing to the championship of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and posting a 22-10 record to date this season. The winner of Wednesdasy's Drake vs. Chicago State contest will face the winner of the Southern Illinois vs. DePaul match Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa. The postseason appearance is the fourth in program history, joining the 1995, 2018 and 2022 NIVC seasons.

Southern Illinois (20-11) returns to the postseason for the first time since 2015, earning an at-large bid. 

Valpo (18-14) returns to the postseason for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in the last six years, as the Beacons learned they had earned an at-large bid. Valpo will make the trip to Greeley, Colorado for the tournament’s first two rounds and will face host Northern Colorado on Thursday night at 7 PM CT.

The MVC has had a team reach the final of the NIVC the past two seasons.  Drake made the tournament final in 2022, falling to Boston College in the title match in Des Moines.  Valpo reached the tournament final in 2021, dropping a 3-0 decision to UNLV. 

More information and a full schedule is available at www.womensnivc.com.