NAIA Men’s Volleyball – the Stepbrother

Often overlooked and sometimes ignored, but never forgotten by true fans, NAIA men’s Volleyball is an outstanding, high quality sports program that is nonetheless struggling to grow in the face of increasing battles with both the budget and the NCAA.  Since 2010, five schools have left the NAIA for NCAA DII: 1) California Baptist University (2010); 2) Concordia University – Irvine (2014); 3) Emmanuel College of Georgia (2014); 4) Lindenwood University of St. Charles (2012); and 5) Holy Names University (2012).  These losses are obviously not conducive to growth in the NAIA and may well hurt the sport of men’s Volleyball long term.

At this time 25 teams compete in NAIA men’s Volleyball, which is concentrated in the Midwest where 19 of these schools are located.  NAIA men’s Volleyball has only one conference, a “composite” conference composed of teams from various other NAIA conferences and called the NAIAMVB, which is appropriate enough, I guess, or maybe shows a lack of imagination, I’m not sure.  Anyway, 19 programs play in the NAIAMVB while the other six programs are Independents.  The NAIAMVB is divided into four divisions, based on geography: Great Lakes, National, North, and South.

Men’s Volleyball in the NAIA is considered an “Emerging Sport” which basically means that the sport does not yet possess the requisite 50 teams necessary for a sponsored NAIA championship. It is, however, recognized as a varsity sport by the NAIA and the sport is permitted to host a national “Invitational” championship, which the NAIA endorses but does not support or sponsor financially. The competitors in this invitational tournament consist of the four division champions, one at-large team, and the host team. The winner of this Invitational Tournament (currently presented by the generosity of Tachikara) is the national NAIA men’s Volleyball champion.

The past ten winners of the Tachikara Invitational Tournament, and therefore the men’s NAIA national champions, are shown below.  It is interesting to note that Park University is the only school still competing in the NAIA, while the other champions have all moved to the NCAA DII.

2014 – Park

2013 – Concordia-Irvine

2012 – Park

2011 – California Baptist

2010 – California Baptist

2009 – Lindenwood

2008 – Park

2007 – California Baptist

2006 – California Baptist

2005 – California Baptist

NAIA men’s Volleyball.  Great competition and high quality volleyball, and there’s a real good reason DI and DII schools don’t like to play NAIA teams. Also, apparently the NAIA is the training ground for NCAA DII teams.  So, if you like men’s Volleyball, you’ll love the NAIA.  And, like all the other Volleyball conferences, they need our support!