Nashville is a city that does not have a school with a collegiate men’s volleyball team. However, it does not mean that they cannot host a tournament with schools that do have one.
Earlier today, Off the Block announced that Nashville, Tennessee will be the site of the Grow the Game Challenge that will feature 11 NCAA teams. The 13 non-conference matches will take place on the campus of Lipscomb University and will begin on January 12th and run through the 14th.
This tournament will be the largest non-conference tournament as well as the only tournament where all matches are on a neutral site.
The teams heading out there include Barton, Charleston, Erskine, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, Lindenwood, McKendree, North Greenville and Sacred Heart. Both Barton and Hawaii made it to the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio last season.
All five Division I & II conferences will be represented in this tournament with Barton, Erskine, Limestone and North Greenville from Conference Carolinas; Charleston and Sacred Hearts from the EIVA; Lindenwood and McKendree from the MIVA. Hawaii will make its debut in the newly formed Big West conference while Grand Canyon moves to the MPSF from the MIVA. Lincoln Memorial is the lone independent school in this tournament as they are heading into their second year of the program.
This tournament was formed through the endorsement by MotorMVB and USA Volleyball to go along with other organizations as well as Vinnie Lopes who is the founder of a men’s volleyball coverage site, Off the Block. Lopes will also be the Grow the Game Challenge tournament coordinator.
Tournament Schedule
FRIDAY – JAN. 12
Erskine vs. Lindenwood
Charleston vs. Limestone
Grand Canyon vs. North Greenville
McKendree vs. Sacred Heart
Hawai’i vs. Lincoln Memorial
SATURDAY – JAN. 13
Limestone vs. McKendree
Lindenwood vs. North Greenville
Charleston vs. Erskine
Hawai’i vs. Barton
Grand Canyon vs. Sacred Heart
SUNDAY – JAN. 14
Lindenwood vs. Barton
Lincoln Memorial vs. Sacred Heart
Hawai’i vs. Grand Canyon
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