RSC sending IU East, IU Kokomo to NAIA Volleyball Opening Round Nov. 18

11/17/2017 12:00:00 AM

NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- The River States Conference is sending two teams to the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round to be held at 12 campus sites around the country on Saturday, Nov. 18. IU East is making its sixth nationals appearance as RSC Tournament champion, and IU Kokomo is making its third nationals venture as RSC regular-season champion.

There are 24 teams that will battle it out in the NAIA Volleyball Opening Round Nov. 18. The 12 winners will advance to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa, where they will join the 20 teams that earned an opening-round bye, Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

IU East (21-18) plays at (RV) Missouri Valley (32-8) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The Red Wolves are back in the national tournament for their sixth appearance but the first time since 2013. IU East punched its nationals ticket by winning the conference tournament on its home court last weekend and beating IU Kokomo in the finals.

Missouri Valley is in NAIAs for the first time ever and earned its bid as the Heart Conference Tournament Runner-up. IU East has gotten through the opening round once, which occured in 2012.

IU Kokomo (30-9) plays at (RV) Indiana Wesleyan (27-10) on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Cougars are making their third consecutive appearance in the NAIA Opening Round, and they got through to the final site for the first time last year. IU Kokomo was undefeated in the conference regular season to earn its nationals bid as conference regular-season champ.

Indiana Wesleyan is in the national tournament for the seventh time. The Wildcats qualified as Crossroads League Tournament champs. IU Kokomo had won 24 straight matches before losing in the conference finals.

2017 NAIA VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING ROUND -- Saturday, Nov. 18

IU East (21-18) at (RV) Missouri Valley (32-8), 8 p.m. ET
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IU Kokomo at (RV) Indiana Wesleyan (27-10), 1 p.m. ET
Live Stats | Live Video