Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association

This article is about the NCAA conference of scholarship-granting teams. For the club-level men's volleyball league, see Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. For the NCAA Division III men's volleyball conference, see Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League.

Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association

MIVA logo

Association| NCAA
Sport| Volleyball
Founded| 1961
Commissioner| Tim O'Brien
Division| Division I & Division II
No. of teams| 9
Most recent
champion(s)| Ohio State Buckeyes
(2024)
Official website| mivavolleyball.com

The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) is a college athletic conference whose member schools compete in men's volleyball. The conference footprint is centered in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Missouri in the west to Ohio in the east, and also extends into North Carolina and will expand into Kentucky in the spring 2026 season. Many of the conference's schools also participate in the similarly named Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in men's volleyball at the club level.

The MIVA Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship, which now consists of eight teams playing in a single-elimination format to determine the national champion. The two other pre-2017 major volleyball conferences, the EIVA (Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) and the MPSF (Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), also send their league tournament champions to the tournament, as do Conference Carolinas (since the 2014 season), the Big West Conference (since the 2018 season forward), and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (from the 2024 season).

## History

[edit]

On February 4, 1961 the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Conference, the nation's first men's college volleyball league, was started in Lansing, Michigan by representatives of Ball State University, Detroit Institute of Technology, Earlham College, George Williams College, Lansing College, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, and Wittenberg College. The league came about largely through the efforts of Jim Coleman of Wittenberg College and Don Shondell of Ball State University. The league name was later changed to the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). Over the years, more than 40 schools from Divisions I, II, and III, as well as a couple of junior colleges, have participated as members of the MIVA. The current membership is made up of six D-I (including two charter members) and three D-II institutions,[1] with Lindenwood University[2] and the newest member, 2023 arrival Queens University of Charlotte, having started transitions from D-II to D-I in July 2022.[3]

After the 2025 season, Quincy will leave for the new men's volleyball league of its primary home of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). Lewis and McKendree, despite being full GLVC members, were not named as part of the inaugural GLVC men's volleyball lineup.[4] The MIVA membership will remain at 9 teams with the arrival of Northern Kentucky University, which will launch a varsity men's volleyball program in the 2026 season.[5]

Three MIVA teams have won the NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship, although only two are officially recognized by the NCAA. Lewis' 2003 title was later vacated by the school due to player eligibility issues, and the NCAA no longer recognizes the title. Loyola won the national championship in both 2014 and 2015, and Ohio State won the title in 2011, 2016, and 2017.[6]

### Membership timeline

[edit]

## Members

[edit]

The MIVA comprises nine teams from the NCAA's Division I and Division II.

### Current members

[edit]

The "Joined" column reflects the calendar year in which a school joined the MIVA. Since NCAA men's volleyball is currently a spring sport, the calendar year of entry precedes the first season of competition, except for schools that joined when the conference was formed in February 1961.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Team Nickname  | Primary conference  | Arena  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Ball State University | Muncie, Indiana | 1918  | 1961  | Public | 21,401  | Cardinals | Mid-American[a] | John E. Worthen Arena | 11,500
Lewis University | Romeoville, Illinois | 1932  | 1994  | Private/Catholic | 5,800  | Flyers | GLVC[b] | Neil Carey Arena  | 1,075
Lindenwood University | St. Charles, Missouri | 1827  | 2013  | Private/Presbyterian | 11,904  | Lions | OVC[a] | Robert F. Hyland Performance Arena | 3,270
Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 1870  | 1996  | Private/Catholic | 15,951  | Ramblers | Atlantic 10[a] | Joseph J. Gentile Arena | 4,963
McKendree University | Lebanon, Illinois | 1828  | 2015  | Private/Methodist | 3.054  | Bearcats | GLVC[b] | Harry M. Statham Sports Center  | 1,500
Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | 1870  | 1961  | Public  | 55,014  | Buckeyes | Big Ten[a] | Covelli Center | 3,700
Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1964[c] | 1981  | Public  | 8,298  | Mastodons | Horizon League[a] | Hilliard Gates Sports Center | 2,800
Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1857  | 2023  | Private / Presbyterian | 2,463  | Royals | ASUN[a] | Curry Arena | 2,500
Quincy University | Quincy, Illinois | 1860  | 1994  | Private/Catholic | 1,300  | Hawks | GLVC[b] | Pepsi Arena  | 2,000

1. ^ a b c d e f Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
2. ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
3. ^ Purdue Fort Wayne began operating as a standalone institution in 2018, but inherited its athletic program from Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne, established in 1964.

The most recent change in MIVA membership was the arrival of Queens in 2023.[3] Before that, the most recent change was the 2017 departure of Grand Canyon for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.[7] The next changes will be the departure of full GLVC member Quincy for that conference's new men's volleyball league and the arrival of Northern Kentucky, both in 2025–26.

One current MIVA member changed its institutional and athletic identity after the 2018 men's volleyball season. Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), a joint venture between the Indiana University and Purdue University systems, was dissolved at the end of the 2017–18 school year. IPFW's academic programs in health sciences now operate as Indiana University Fort Wayne, and all other academic programs transferred to Purdue as Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW). The athletic program was inherited solely by PFW. Shortly before the split took effect, PFW announced that the athletic program, previously known as the Fort Wayne Mastodons, would become the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons.[8]

### Future member

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joining  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Team Nickname  | Primary conference  | Arena  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, Kentucky | 1968  | 2025  | Public | 15,827  | Norse | Horizon League[a] | Regents Hall  | 1,346

### Former members

[edit]

Affiliations reflect those for men's volleyball, and are current for the upcoming 2025 NCAA men's volleyball season (2024–25 school year). Institutional names and nicknames reflect those in current (or, for defunct institutions, most recent) use, not necessarily those used while each school was an MIVA member.

The NCAA's top men's volleyball championship is open to schools in Divisions I and II, with scholarship limits identical for members of each division. Therefore, this table makes no distinction between NCAA Division I and Division II conferences.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Left  | Type  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Current Conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Detroit Institute of Technology | Detroit, Michigan | 1891  | 1961  | 1962  | Private/YMCA | Closed  |  | No Program
Earlham College | Richmond, Indiana | 1847  | 1961  | 1985  | Private/Quakers | 1,019  | Quakers  | No Program
George Williams College | Downers Grove, Illinois | 1890  | 1961  | 1985  | Private/YMCA | Closed  |  | No Program
Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | 1855  | 1961
1967  | 1962
1970  | Public  | 50,351  | Spartans | No Program
Wittenberg University | Springfield, Ohio | 1845  | 1961  | 1962  | Private/Lutheran (ELCA) | 1,738  | Tigers  | MCVL[b]
University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | 1865  | 1962  | 1968  | Public  | 29,182  | Wildcats | No Program
Lansing Community College | Lansing, Michigan | 1957  | 1962  | 1963  | Community college | 18,551  | Stars  | No Program
Calvin University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 1876  | 1962
1970  | 1962
1970  | Private/CRC | 3,570  | Knights | MCVL[b]
Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1930  | 1962  | 1973  | Private  | 9,652  | Warriors  | WHAC[c]
University of Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky | 1798  | 1965  | 1965  | Public  | 21,430  | Cardinals | No Program
Indiana University | Bloomington, Indiana | 1820  | 1965
1973  | 1969
1979  | Public  | 43,710  | Hoosiers | No Program
University of Toledo | Toledo, Ohio | 1872  | 1965
1981  | 1970
1982  | Public  | 23,085  | Rockets | No Program
Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Illinois | 1869  | 1966  | 1966  | Public  | 11,695  | Salukis | No Program
Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, Indiana | 1859  | 1967  | 1968  | Private/Lutheran (ELCA) | 4,500  | Beacons | No Program
University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 1946  | 1967  | 1970  | Public  | 33,390  | Flames | No Program
Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | 1869  | 1969
1982  | 1975
1986  | Public  | 43,411  | Boilermakers | No Program
University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1819  | 1969
1980  | 1969
1982  | Public  | 46,388  | Bearcats | No Program
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1817  | 1970
1975
1982  | 1970
1975
1986  | Public  | 46,002  | Wolverines | No Program
Anderson University | Anderson, Indiana | 1917  | 1970  | 1970  | Private/Church of God (Anderson) | 1,877  | Ravens | No Program
Kellogg Community College | Battle Creek, Michigan | 1956  | 1970  | 1985  | Community college | 8,400  | Bruins  | No Program
Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, Ohio | 1910  | 1971  | 1985  | Public  | 20,395  | Falcons | No Program
Wright State University | Fairborn, Ohio[d] | 1967  | 1978  | 1979  | Public  | 13,520  | Raiders | No Program
University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | 1848  | 1979  | 1980  | Public  | 44,413  | Badgers | No Program
University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 1842  | 1983  | 1988  | Private/Catholic | 12,292  | Fighting Irish | No Program
College of Wooster | Wooster, Ohio | 1866  | 1984  | 1984  | Private/Presbyterian (PCUSA) | 2,000  | Fighting Scots  | No Program
Hardin–Simmons University | Abilene, Texas | 1891  | 1986  | 1986  | Private/Baptist | 2,392  | Cowboys  | No Program
Graceland University | Lamoni, Iowa | 1895  | 1987  | 1990  | Private/Community of Christ | 2,222  | Yellowjackets | HAAC[c]
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1956  | 1991  | 1997  | Public  | 26,037  | Panthers | No Program
Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, Kentucky | 1921  | 1995  | 1997  | Private/Catholic | 1,963  | Saints | Independent
(GLVC in the 2026 season)
Mercyhurst University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1926  | 1997  | 2008  | Private/Catholic | 2,759  | Lakers | No Program
Clarke University | Dubuque, Iowa | 1843  | 1998  | 2007  | Private/Catholic | 1,200  | Pride  | HAAC[c]
University of Findlay | Findlay, Ohio | 1882  | 2001  | 2005  | Private/Churches of God (Winebrenner) | 3,700  | Oilers | No Program
Carthage College | Kenosha, Wisconsin | 1847  | 2005  | 2007  | Private/Lutheran (ELCA) | 2,800  | Firebirds  | CCIW[b]
Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1903  | 2005  | 2007  | Private/Nonsectarian  | 2,820  | Raiders  | NACC[b]
Central State University | Wilberforce, Ohio | 1887  | 2006  | 2007  | Public/HBCU | 2,119  | Marauders  | SIAC
Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, Arizona | 1949  | 2010  | 2017  | For-profit/Nondenominational[e] | 20,500  | Antelopes | MPSF

1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
2. ^ a b c d Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
3. ^ a b c Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
4. ^ The campus has a Dayton mailing address.
5. ^ Grand Canyon's for-profit status is disputed. The U.S. Department of Education considers GCU to be for-profit, but the NCAA, the state of Arizona, and the Internal Revenue Service all treat it as a nonprofit.

## MIVA Champions

[edit]

1961–1989  Year  | Regular Season  | Tournament

|
|

1961  | George Williams | No Tournament
1962  | George Williams
1963  | George Williams
1964  | Ball State | Ball State
1965  | Ball State | Ball State
1966  | Ball State | Ball State
1967  | Ball State | Ball State
1968  | Ball State | Ball State
1969  | Ohio State | Ohio State
1970  | Ball State | No Tournament
1971  | Ball State
1972  | Ohio State
1973  | Ball State
1974  | Ball State / Ohio State
1975  | Ball State / Ohio State
1976  | Ball State
1977  | Ohio State
1978  | Ohio State
1979  | Ball State
1980  | Kellogg CC | Kellogg CC
1981  | Ohio State | Ohio State
1982  | Ohio State | Ohio State
1983  | Ohio State | Ohio State
1984  | Ball State | Ball State
1985  | Ball State | Ball State
1986  | Ohio State | Ohio State
1987  | Ohio State | Ohio State
1988  | Ball State | Ball State
1989  | Ball State | Ball State
1990–present  Year  | Regular Season  | Tournament

|
|

1990  | Ball State / IPFW | Ball State
1991  | IPFW | IPFW
1992  | IPFW | IPFW
1993  | IPFW / Ohio State | Ohio State
1994  | IPFW | Ball State
1995  | Ball State / Ohio State | Ball State
1996  | Ball State / Lewis / Ohio State | Lewis
1997  | Ball State | Ball State
1998  | Ohio State | Lewis
1999  | IPFW / Ohio State | IPFW
2000  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2001  | Lewis*  | Ohio State
2002  | Ball State / Loyola Chicago | Ball State
2003  | Lewis*  | Lewis*
2004  | Ohio State | Lewis
2005  | Loyola Chicago | Ohio State
2006  | Loyola Chicago | IPFW
2007  | Ohio State | IPFW
2008  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2009  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2010  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2011  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2012  | Lewis / Ohio State | Lewis
2013  | Lewis / Loyola Chicago | Loyola Chicago
2014  | Loyola Chicago | Loyola Chicago
2015  | Lewis | Loyola Chicago
2016  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2017  | Ohio State | Ohio State
2018  | Loyola Chicago / Ohio State | Ohio State
2019  | Lewis | Lewis
2021  | Lewis | Lewis
2022  | Ball State | Ball State
2023  | Ball State / Loyola Chicago / Ohio State | Ohio State
2024  | Ball State | Ohio State

### Titles

[edit]

Total  | School  | Reg.  | Tourney  | Last

|
|
|
|

47  | Ohio State | 28  | 19  | 2024
39  | Ball State | 24  | 15  | 2024
12  | Lewis | 6  | 6  | 2021
11  | Purdue Fort Wayne | 6  | 5  | 2007
10  | Loyola Chicago | 7  | 3  | 2023
3  | George Williams | 3  | 0  | 1963
2  | Kellogg CC | 1  | 1  | 1980

## MIVA in the NCAA tournament

[edit]

Until 2014, the NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship was a Final Four only tournament with the champions of three conferences (EIVA, MIVA, and MPSF) receiving automatic bids and one team getting an at-large bid. In 2014, the tournament expanded to include the champion of the Division II Conference Carolinas and a second at-large team. The tournament expanded to seven teams for 2018 with the addition of the Big West Conference champion, and eight in 2024 with the addition of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion.

| Year  | School  | Finish

|
|

1970  | Ball State  | 4th
1971  | Ball State  | 3rd
1972  | Ball State  | 3rd
1973  | Ball State  | 3rd
1974  | Ball State  | 3rd
1975  | Ohio State  | 3rd
1976  | Ohio State  | 3rd
1977  | Ohio State  | Runner-up
1978  | Ohio State  | 3rd
1979  | Ball State  | 4th
1980  | Ohio State  | 3rd
1981  | Ohio State  | 4th
1982  | Ohio State  | 4th
1983  | Ohio State  | 3rd
1984  | Ball State  | 4th
| Year  | School  | Finish

|
|

1985  | Ball State  | 4th
1986  | Ohio State  | 4th
1987  | Ohio State  | 4th
1988  | Ball State  | 3rd
1989  | Ball State  | 4th
1990  | Ball State  | 3rd
1991  | IPFW[a] | 3rd
1992  | IPFW[a] | 4th
1993  | Ohio State  | 4th
1994  | Ball State  | 3rd
IPFW[a] | 4th
1995  | Ball State  | 3rd
1996  | Lewis  | 3rd
1997  | Ball State  | 3rd
1998  | Lewis  | 3rd
| Year  | School  | Finish

|
|

1999  | IPFW[a] | 3rd
2000  | Ohio State  | Runner-up
2001  | Ohio State  | 3rd
2002  | Ball State  | 3rd
2003  | Lewis | Champions [b]
2004  | Lewis  | 3rd
2005  | Ohio State  | 3rd
2006  | IPFW[a] | 3rd
2007  | IPFW[a] | Runner-up
2008  | Ohio State  | 3rd
2009  | Ohio State  | 3rd
2010  | Ohio State  | 3rd
2011  | Ohio State | Champions
2012  | Lewis  | 3rd
2013  | Loyola Chicago  | 3rd
| Year  | School  | Finish

|
|

2014  | Loyola Chicago | Champions
Lewis  | 5th
2015  | Loyola Chicago | Champions
Lewis  | Runner-up
2016  | Ohio State | Champions
2017  | Ohio State | Champions
2018  | Ohio State  | 3rd
2019  | Lewis  | 3rd
2021  | Lewis  | 3rd
2022  | Ball State  | 3rd
2023  | Ohio State  | Quarterfinals
2024  | Ohio State  | Quarterfinals

1. ^ a b c d e f Branded as "Fort Wayne" in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and "Purdue Fort Wayne" afterwards.
2. ^ Title vacated due to NCAA violations.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association : MIVA History". www.mivavolleyball.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14.
2. ^ "Lindenwood University to Join the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022-23" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
3. ^ a b "Queens University of Charlotte to Join MIVA in 2023" (Press release). Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
4. ^ "Men's Volleyball Announced as Next GLVC Sport in 2025-26" (Press release). Great Lakes Valley Conference. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
5. ^ "Northern Kentucky to Join MIVA on July 1, 2025" (Press release). Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. August 23, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
6. ^ "Men's Volleyball Championship History". NCAA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
7. ^ "Men's volleyball to join MPSF in 2018". Grand Canyon University. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
8. ^ "Purdue Fort Wayne Branding Released" (Press release). Purdue University Fort Wayne. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association

Current members|

* Ball State Cardinals
* Lewis Flyers
* Lindenwood Lions
* Loyola Ramblers
* McKendree Bearcats
* Ohio State Buckeyes
* Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
* Queens Royals
* Quincy Hawks (leaving in 2025)

Future members|

* Northern Kentucky Norse (joining in 2025)

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