CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The inaugural season for Campbellsville men's volleyball is on the horizon, as the Tigers serve up the 2017 schedule this week.
Campbellsville hosts Cincinnati Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 17 with first serve going up at 7 p.m. ET in the Powell Athletic Center. Admission is FREE for all, while live video and stats will be available at the links above for those who cannot attend.
Cincinnati Christian has sponsored men's volleyball the previous four seasons and went 12-11 last year. The match on Tuesday night is the season opener for both programs.
Men's volleyball is the 28
th varsity program at Campbellsville University and the Tigers are one of 32 teams that have been added to the newest up-and-coming sport for the NAIA.
Men's volleyball is one of three current invitational sports in the NAIA joining men's and women's lacrosse - meaning there are at least 25 or more institutions declaring intent to participate in postseason competition.
The next step for NAIA men's volleyball is to be recognized as a championship sport – but only if 40 or more institutions declare intent to participate in postseason.
The Tigers will compete in the Independent East Region, which is comprised of seven institutions from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), Mid-South Conference (MSC), River States Conference (former KIAC) and the Sun Conference.
CU joins Bluefield College, Bryan College and St. Andrews University out of the AAC, Cincinnati Christian University from the River States Conference, while Warner University is from the Sun Conference.
Including the Independent East Region, there are five total divisions – Chicagoland College Athletic Conference, Heart of America Athletic Conference, Independent Mid-West Region and the Independent Mid-West Region.
The regular season division champion from each of the five divisions will get an automatic bid to the NAIA National Invitational Tournament to be held April 19-22 at Missouri Baptist University.
