For the fifth-consecutive year, the Northern Iowa Panthers will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship.
 
The Panthers completed their fourth-straight undefeated season in Conference play with an untouched 16-0 record. The regular-season title marked the 24th for UNI and 14th for the Panthers under the direction of head coach Bobbi Petersen. Additionally, it marks the 15th time in league history that a team has gone undefeated in Valley play, and the 11th time UNI has gone untouched.
 
Earning a first-round bye alongside the Panthers is the No. 2 seed Belmont Bruins. With a 12-4 ledger in league play, the Bruins earned their highest Conference finish in program history.
 
The quarterfinal round of the 2026 tournament will begin on Wednesday, November 18, as the No. 4-seeded Drake Bulldogs host No. 5 Illinois State, while No. 6 UIC travels to face the No. 3-seeded Bradley Braves on Thursday, November 19. Both matches are slated to begin at 6 p.m. CT on their respective days.
 
ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Each round of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship will be hosted by the highest seed and feature the league’s top six teams. Semifinals will be played on Saturday, November 21, with the championship match slated for Tuesday, November 24, which will be played at the highest remaining seed after the semifinal round.
 
For the most up-to-date information, please visit Championship Central on the MVC website.