The Big West Conference today announced the creation of a men’s volleyball championship beginning in 2018, becoming the first NCAA Division I conference to sponsor competition in the sport.
Big West video is here:
In making the announcement, Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell noted that men’s volleyball will become the18th sport in which the conference conducts an annual championship.
The Big West Board of Directors approved a six-team league consisting of full conference members CSUN, Long Beach State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, and Hawai’i. A sixth team from UC San Diego will join the group as an associate member and will give the conference the minimum six teams required for postseason NCAA automatic qualification.
An associate member in the Big West is any institution that participates in three or less conference championships.
Other current Big West associate members are CSU Bakersfield in women’s beach volleyball and Sacramento State in men’s soccer and women’s beach volleyball.
Competition for the regular season championship will be contested in a double round-robin format for a total of 10 matches. A six-team, single elimination postseason tournament will be conducted at a campus site one week prior to the NCAA Championship Selections.
The Big West Conference is thrilled to add a sport that is so popular in our region and is growing on the national level, said Farrell. Because the NCAA championship is conducted across Divisions I and II, UC San Diego despite its Division II status in its other sports, is eligible to compete in the Big West in this sport.”
It should be noted that the creation of this championship is the culmination of a year’s worth of work within the conference that has engaged both the sport’s coaches and administrators. UC San Diego’s consideration as a member in men’s volleyball has been discussed throughout that process and has no relation to its current consideration of Division I membership.
The six programs, which previously have competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation since 1993, come to the newly formed conference having played a prominent role in men’s volleyball on the national scene.
The schools have produced five NCAA national championships, 12 runner-up finishes and 26 Final Four appearances since 1970. UC Irvine won four national titles over a seven-year period, including 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013. Since 2008, five of the conference members have made at least one appearance in the NCAA Championship.
WHAT THEYRE SAYING ABOUT THE ADDITION OF BIG WEST MENS VOLLEYBALL
UC Irvine Director of Athletics Michael Izzi (Men’s Volleyball Ad Hoc Committee Chair)
Having the Big West Conference establish the first Division I men’s volleyball conference was an important step in solidifying a commitment to the sport and the student-athletes that participate.
The league athletic directors are committed to the highest level of success academically and athletically by our student athletes. The growth and success of the sport aligns perfectly with the Big West’s values and goals. Our teams will be in position to continue to achieve at the highest level every year.
Since 2002, Big West teams have played in seven NCAA title matches, including UC Irvine who has won four NCAA championships in the last 10 years. These teams have clearly been a force in the sport of men’s volleyball and relish the role of leadership and engagement with the sport.
Long Beach State Head Coach Alan Knipe (Men’s Volleyball Ad Hoc Committee Member)
I really believe it’s one of the single best things Ive seen happen to men’s volleyball in all the years Ive been a part of it as a player, assistant coach and head coach. I do believe that it’s going to give men’s volleyball a stronger position to have a traditional conference back our sport. My ultimate goal would be that it would help spur even more growth throughout men’s volleyball and within our championship with the NCAA.
Men’s volleyball makes a lot of sense in the Big West. It’s a legitimate sport for the Big West to play for national championships and to get the Big West patch on these schools when theyre participating. It’s a wonderful endorsement by our conference to have faith in what were doing to our sport that they want to be a part of this. I think it validates 20-30 years of work that men’s volleyball coaches within the Big West have been putting in, and Im super excited about it.
UC Irvine Head Coach David Kniffin
This is something that has been a dream of men’s volleyball for some time. To be a part of the first conference, to take a step in that direction of official growth is exciting for us. It’s also exciting to be a part of the first conference in the United States where we actually now offer all three sports, from women’s volleyball to sand volleyball to men’s volleyball. It’s exciting to be part of truly a volleyball conference.
It’s always nice to able to unify your brand around not just one institution but several institutions. All of the institutions within the Big West as far as men’s volleyball goes have demonstrated success over the years.
Hawaii Head Coach Charlie Wade (Men’s Volleyball Ad Hoc Committee Member)
The Big West is to be commended for their support of Men’s Volleyball and their decision to become the first traditional division one conference to sponsor Men’s Volleyball. As a coach, I am very appreciative of Dennis Farrell and his leadership team for believing in us and making this happen.
From its inception the Big West will provide our fans with an exciting and nationally competitive schedule. Five of the six schools have qualified for the NCAA Tournament during the past seven years and continue to be among the nation’s best men’s volleyball programs.
Kathy DeBoer, American Volleyball Coaches Association Executive Director
The decision by the Big West to make men’s volleyball a conference sport is ground-breaking! For an established DI conference to commit to men’s volleyball during these challenging times sends a positive message to the entire Olympic sports community that growth is possible.”
Congrats to all in the Big West for seeing the opportunities in men’s volleyball and having the will to make this unprecedented choice!
BIG WEST MENS VOLLEYBALL FACTS
5 National Championships
12 National Runner-Ups
26 Final Four Appearances
6 AVCA National Players of the Year
7 National Coaches of the Year
7 AVCA National Newcomers of the Year
At least one No. 1 team in 16 of last 18 years
AVCA National Player of the Year
2013 Taylor Crabb, Long Beach State
2008 Paul Lotman, Long Beach State (co)
2006 Jayson Jablonsky, UC Irvine
2003 Costas Theocharidis, Hawaii
2001 Costas Theocharidis, Hawaii
1996 Yuval Katz, Hawaii (co)
1992 Brent Hilliard, Long Beach State
AVCA National Newcomer of the Year
2016 TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
2010 Jonas Umlauft, Hawaii
2008 Cody Loe, CSUN
2006 Brent Asuka, UC Irvine
2004 Evan Patak, UC Santa Barbara
2003 Tyler Hildebrand, Long Beach State
2000 Costas Theocharidis, Hawaii
AVCA National Coach of the Year
2006 John Speraw, UC Irvine
2004 Alan Knipe, Long Beach State
2002 Mike Wilton, Hawaii
1995 Mike Wilton, Hawaii
1991 Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State
ASICS/Volleyball Magazine
National Coach of the Year
2013 David Kniffin, UC Irvine
2004 Jeff Campbell, CSUN
2002 Mike Wilton, Hawaii
1995 Mike Wilton, Hawaii
1993 John Price, CSUN
1991 Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State
1990 Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State
NCAA POSTSEASON
2016 Long Beach State (national semifinalist)
2015 UC Irvine (national semifinalist)
2015 Hawaii (play-in)
2013 UC Irvine (national champion)
2012 UC Irvine (national champion)
2011 UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)
2010 CSUN (national semifinalist)
2009 UC Irvine (national champion)
2008 Long Beach State (national semifinalist)
2007 UC Irvine (national champion)
2006 UC Irvine (national semifinalist)
2004 Long Beach State (national runner-up)
2002 Hawaii (national champion)*
1999 Long Beach State (national runner-up)
1996 Hawaii (national runner-up)
1995 Hawaii (national semifinalist)
1993 CSUN (national runner-up)
1991 Long Beach State (national champion)
1990 Long Beach State (national runner-up)
1988 UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)
1975 UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)
1974 UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)
1973 Long Beach State (national runner-up)
1972 UC Santa Barbara (national semifinalist)
1971 UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)
1970 Long Beach State (national runner-up)
1970 UC Santa Barbara (national semifinalist)
* Later vacated due to use of ineligible player
NATIONAL POLLS, NO. 1 TEAMS
2016 Long Beach State
2015 UC Irvine, Hawaii
2014 UC Irvine, Long Beach State
2013 UC Irvine
2012 UC Irvine
2011 None
2010 CSUN
2009 UC Irvine, CSUN
2008 CSUN
2007 UC Irvine
2006 UC Irvine, Long Beach State
2005 None
2004 Hawaii
2003 Hawaii, UC Irvine
2002 Hawaii
2001 Hawaii, Long Beach State
2000 Long Beach State
1999 Long Beach State
