Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association

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. Many of the conference's schools also participate in the similarly named Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in men's volleyball at the club level.

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
AssociationNCAA
SportVolleyball
Founded1961
CommissionerTim O'Brien
DivisionDivision I & Division II
No. of teams9
Most recent
champion(s)		Ohio State Buckeyes
(2023)
Official websitemivavolleyball.com

The MIVA Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship, which now consists of seven 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) and the Big West Conference (from the 2018 season forward).

History

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]

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.[4]

Membership timeline
Queens University of CharlotteMcKendree UniversityLindenwood UniversityGrand Canyon UniversityCentral State UniversityMilwaukee School of EngineeringCarthage CollegeUniversity of FindlayClarke CollegeMercyhurst UniversityLoyola University ChicagoThomas More College (Kentucky)Quincy UniversityLewis UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeGraceland CollegeHardin–Simmons UniversityCollege of WoosterUniversity of Notre DamePurdue University Fort WayneUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonWright State UniversityBowling Green State UniversityKellogg Community CollegeAnderson University (Indiana)University of MichiganUniversity of CincinnatiPurdue UniversityUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoValparaiso UniversitySouthern Illinois University CarbondaleUniversity of ToledoIndiana University BloomingtonUniversity of LouisvilleIndiana Institute of TechnologyCalvin CollegeLansing Community CollegeUniversity of KentuckyWittenberg CollegeMichigan State UniversityGeorge Williams CollegeEarlham CollegeDetroit Institute of TechnologyOhio State UniversityBall State University

Members

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

Current members

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

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.[6]

Former members

Affiliations reflect those for men's volleyball, and are current for the upcoming 2024 NCAA men's volleyball season (2023–24 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 (NCAA D-III)
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 (NCAA D-III)
Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana 1930 1962 1973 Private 9,652 Warriors WHAC (NAIA)
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 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 (NAIA)
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
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 (NAIA)
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 (NCAA D-III)
Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1903 2005 2007 Private/Nonsectarian 2,820 Raiders NACC (NCAA D-III)
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 20,500 Antelopes MPSF

    MIVA Champions
    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

    Titles
    Total School Reg. Tourney Last
    45 Ohio State 28 17 2023
    38 Ball State 23 15 2023
    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

    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.

    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[lower-alpha 1] 3rd
    1992 IPFW[lower-alpha 1] 4th
    1993 Ohio State 4th
    1994 Ball State 3rd
    IPFW[lower-alpha 1] 4th
    1995 Ball State 3rd
    1996 Lewis 3rd
    1997 Ball State 3rd
    1998 Lewis 3rd
    Year School Finish
    1999 IPFW[lower-alpha 1] 3rd
    2000 Ohio State Runner-up
    2001 Ohio State 3rd
    2002 Ball State 3rd
    2003 Lewis Champions [lower-alpha 2]
    2004 Lewis 3rd
    2005 Ohio State 3rd
    2006 IPFW[lower-alpha 1] 3rd
    2007 IPFW[lower-alpha 1] 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
    1. Branded as "Fort Wayne" in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and "Purdue Fort Wayne" afterwards.
    2. Title vacated due to NCAA violations.

    References
    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. "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 Championship History". NCAA. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
    5. "Men's volleyball to join MPSF in 2018". Grand Canyon University. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
    6. "Purdue Fort Wayne Branding Released" (Press release). Purdue University Fort Wayne. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
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