Two MIAA volleyball teams will represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament this week, as both Calvin and Hope extend their 2016 seasons and aim to advance through the national tournament. The two teams carry storied histories into the NCAAs, as one of the two teams has advanced to the NCAA Championship game in three of the last four seasons, with both Hope (2014) and Calvin (2013) raising the National Champion trophy during that time.
Calvin will serve as host for NCAA Regional play Nov. 10-12, with eight teams competing at Van Noord Arena and the winner advancing to the national quarterfinals in Oshkosh, Wis. The Knights (27-1) will face Pitt.-Bradford (25-5) Thursday, Nov. 10, with the winner taking on the winner of DePauw/Carnegie Mellon Friday, Nov. 11.
Calvin, the MIAA regular season champion and top-ranked team in the country for the last seven weeks, earned an at-large berth into the national tournament.
Hope (25-5) will take on Elmhurst (22-12) Thursday, Nov. 10, at a neutral court match hosted by UW-Whitewater. The winner of Hope/Elmhurst will face the winner of UW-Whitewater/Greenville Friday, Nov. 11.
Hope avenged two regular season setbacks to Calvin by defeating the Knights in a five-set thriller in the MIAA Tournament championship to earn an automatic berth into the national tournament.
UW-Oshkosh's Kolf Sports Center will host the 2016 NCAA final three rounds Nov. 17-19.
Tournament links
NCAA Division III Volleyball page
