Illinois State Earns Share of MVC Title, UNI Can Join Them on Saturday

Courtesy: Missouri Valley Conference

Illinois State secured at least a share of the regular season MVC title despite a loss at Bradley Friday following UNI’s loss at Evansville. The Aces win was only the second ever against the Panthers in the series history. UNI can claim a share of the MVC title and the top seed in the MVC tourney with a win Saturday at Indiana State.

MVC CHAMPIONS!@RedbirdVB // #BackTheBirds pic.twitter.com/y9HEZgH7s8

— Redbird Productions (@Redbird_Pro) November 17, 2018

Friday’s Results…

Drake at Indiana State……………………. ……………… DU, 3-0*

Valparaiso at Missouri State ………………….. VALPO, 3-2*

UNI at Evansville……………….. ………………………… …… UE, 3-2*

Illinois State at Bradley ………………………… ….. BRAD, 3-0*

Loyola at Southern Illinois ………………………… … LUC, 3-0*

Saturday’s Schedule

UNI at Indiana State (ESPN+)………………….. ………… 6 PM*

Drake at Evansville ………………………… ………………….. 7 PM*

Valparaiso at Southern Illinois ………………………… . 7 PM*

Loyola at Missouri State (ESPN3)………………….. …. 7 PM*

Shared Title?

Since 1992, the MVC has only had a shared title in the sport of women’s volleyball three times.  If UNI beats Indiana State Saturday, the Panthers will share the title with Illinois State with 16-2 league records.

Shared Titles

1992 Illinois State & Missouri State       14-2

1993 Illinois State & Missouri State       14-2

2013 Wichita State & UNI                       15-3

Tourney Outlook

UNI, Illinois State, Bradley, Valparaiso and Missouri State have each secured a spot in the six-team MVC Volleyball Tournament which will be held at Missouri State November 22-24. Loyola and Drake are also alive in the race for a conference tourney spot. Loyola controls its own destiny and can lock up the final spot with a win Saturday at Missouri State. Drake can earn the No. 6 seed with a win over Evansville and a Loyola loss to Missouri State.

Good Company

Entering this weekend, The Valley sits in pretty exclusive company. The MVC is one of six leagues in NCAA Division I volleyball to have seven or more teams sitting above .500 on the season, joining the Big Ten (12), ACC (11), Pac 12 (10), Big 12 (8) and SEC (8).

The Valley is one of only three conferences in the country to have four or more teams sitting above a .700 winning percentage on the season. The Valley joins the Big Ten (7) and SEC (4) in the club, leading the Pac 12 (3), Big East (3), Big 12 (2) and ACC (2).