Bracket Set for Missouri Valley Tourney Behind Co-Champs UNI, Illinois State

Courtesy: Missouri Valley Conference

After another competitive regular-season slate, the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship field is set as most tournament seeds came down to tonight’s final matches of the regular-season.

After finishing up tonight's action, the seeding for the #MVCVB tournament is:
1⃣ @UNIVolleyball
2⃣@RedbirdVB
3⃣@BRADLEYvolley
4⃣@VU_VB
5⃣@MissouriStateVB
6⃣@DrakeVolleyball

See the full bracket ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ftGSYPyHCx

— Missouri Valley Conference (@MVCsports) November 18, 2018

UNI (16-2 MVC) and Illinois State (16-2 MVC) shared the MVC regular-season championship, as the Panthers claimed the No. 1 seed for next week’s championship via a tiebreaker.  The title was UNI’s 13th in The Valley era and first since 2013, while the Redbirds won a share of their sixth title in the MVC era and first since 2014.

Conference Championship and going into the MVC Conference Tournament next weekend the number 1 seed ✅ locker room celebration ✅ pic.twitter.com/tepnLTdQGg

— UNIVolleyball (@UNIVolleyball) November 18, 2018

Still @MVCsports champs?

don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it

YEP, LET'S GOOOOO! The 'Birds have locked up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming #MVCVB Championship.

Read more >> https://t.co/MrEsZDvyza#BackTheBirds #LeaveALegacy 🔴🏐⚫️ pic.twitter.com/izBQx1p4pM

— Redbird Volleyball (@RedbirdVB) November 18, 2018

Bradley (13-5 MVC) will be the No. 3 seed in the event, which is the program’s highest seed since the 2001 season. Valparaiso (11-7 MVC) will be the No. 4 seed and host Missouri State (10-8 MVC) will be the No. 5 seed. Drake (8-10 MVC) will be the No. 6 seed and round out the tournament field, beating out Loyola for the final spot via a tiebreaker.

The Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship will get underway when No. 3 Bradley takes on No. 6 Drake in the tournament opener on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 5:00 p.m., followed by No. 4 Valparaiso vs. No. 5 Missouri State at 7:30 p.m. The game one winner between BRAD/DU will take on No. 2 Illinois State on Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. in the first semifinal, while the VALPO/MSU winner will face No. 1 UNI in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Semifinal winners will face off for the Missouri Valley Conference automatic berth into the NCAA Volleyball Championship on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 4:00 p.m.

All five matches of the 2018 MVC Volleyball Championship, including two quarterfinals on Thursday, two semifinals on Friday and the championship match on Saturday, will be available for fans on The Valley on ESPN (ESPN+). Greg Halbleib (play-by-play) and Linda Dollar (analyst) will call the matches live from Hammons Student Center.

2018 MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 22
Quarterfinal #1 – No. 3 Bradley vs. No. 6 Drake, 5 PM (The Valley on ESPN)
Quarterfinal #2 – No. 4 Valparaiso vs. No. 5 Missouri State, 7:30 PM (The Valley on ESPN)

Friday, November 23
Semifinal #1 – No. 2 Illinois State vs. Winner BRAD/DU, 5 PM (The Valley on ESPN)
Semifinal #2 – No. 1 UNI vs. Winner VALPO/MSU, 7:30 PM (The Valley on ESPN)

Saturday, November 24
Championship Match – Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner, 4 PM (The Valley on ESPN)