Postseason Bound: Volleyball Secures Spot in 2024 NIVC

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics learned on Sunday that the Vaqueros volleyball team is postseason bound after securing a spot in the Women’s National Invitational Championship (NIVC).

The Vaqueros (16-11) are heading to Nacogdoches for the first and second rounds of the tournament. UTRGV will face Arkansas State (26-5) in Round 1 on Thursday at 3 p.m. (CT) at host Stephen F. Austin’s Shelton Gym. Jackson State (19-11) will face the hosting Lumberjacks (23-8) at 6 p.m. Thursday. The winners of those matches will face off in the Super 16 match Friday at 6 p.m. at Shelton Gym.

The 2024 NIVC, powered by Triple Crown Sports, is a single-elimination bracket featuring 29 teams. First and second round matches will be played Dec. 4-8 at eight host sites in four-team quads. Great 8 matches will be played at four host sites Dec. 9-12, followed by the Fab 4 matches at two host sites Dec. 12-14. The championship match will be played between Dec. 15-18 and hosted by one of the participating schools.

This will be UTRGV’s third appearance in the NIVC after previously making the tournament in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the Vaqueros earned the first two postseason wins in program history as they hosted the first two rounds in Edinburg and defeated Houston Christian and South Dakota State to reach the Great 8. This is UTRGV’s fourth postseason trip in program history after making the NCAA Tournament in 2016.

Round 1 and Super 16 Information (in bracket order, all times EST)
First-round byes: Arizona, Virginia, Wright State
Host: Arizona
Friday, Dec. 6
Weber State vs. Pacific, 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 7
TBA vs. Arizona, 8 p.m. ET

Host: Wyoming
Thursday, Dec. 5
Utah Valley vs. Washington State, 6 p.m. ET
Idaho State vs. Wyoming, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 8 p.m. ET

Host: Stephen F. Austin
Thursday, Dec. 5
UTRGV vs. Arkansas State, 4 p.m. ET
Jackson State vs. Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 7 p.m. ET

Host: Georgia Southern 
Friday, Dec. 6
Northern Colorado vs. Appalachian State, 3 p.m. ET
Southeastern Missouri State vs. Georgia Southern, 6 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 7
Winners, 4 p.m. ET

Host: Bowling Green
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Binghamton vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m. ET
Thursday, Dec. 5
Binghamton/Bowling Green vs. Wright State, 8 p.m. ET

Host: DePaul
Thursday, Dec. 5
Lindenwood vs. Omaha, 5 p.m. ET
Toledo vs. DePaul, 8 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 8 p.m. ET

Host: Virginia
Saturday, Dec. 7
North Carolina A&T vs. St. John’s, 6 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 8
North Carolina A&T/St. John’s vs. Virgina, 6 p.m. ET

Host: East Carolina
Thursday, Dec. 5
UConn vs. Mercer, 3 p.m. ET
Winthrop vs. East Carolina, 6 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 6 p.m. ET