WHAT’S THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE ADDITION OF BIG WEST MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

UC Irvine Director of Athletics Michael Izzi (Men’s Volleyball Ad Hoc Committee Chair)

Long Beach State Head Coach Alan Knipe (Men’s Volleyball Ad Hoc Committee Member)

UC Irvine Head Coach David Kniffin

Hawai‘i Head Coach Charlie Wade (Men’s Volleyball Ad Hoc Committee Member)

Kathy DeBoer, American Volleyball Coaches Association Executive Director

BIG WEST MEN’S VOLLEYBALL FACTS

AVCA National Player of the Year

AVCA National Newcomer of the Year

AVCA National Coach of the Year

ASICS/Volleyball Magazine National Coach of the Year

NCAA POSTSEASON

NATIONAL POLLS, NO. 1 TEAMS

The Big West Conference today announced the creation of a men’s volleyball championship beginning in 2018, becoming the first NCAA Division I conference to sponsor competition in the sport.In making the announcement, Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell noted that men’s volleyball will become the 18th sport in which the conference conducts an annual championship.The Big West Board of Directors approved a six-team league consisting of full conference members CSUN, Long Beach State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, and Hawai'i. A sixth team from UC San Diego will join the group as an associate member and will give the conference the minimum six teams required for postseason NCAA automatic qualification.An associate member in the Big West is any institution that participates in three or less conference championships. Other current Big West associate members are CSU Bakersfield in women’s beach volleyball and Sacramento State in men’s soccer and women’s beach volleyball.Competition for the regular season championship will be contested in a double round-robin format for a total of 10 matches. A six-team, single elimination postseason tournament will be conducted at a campus site one week prior to the NCAA Championship Selections.“The Big West Conference is thrilled to add a sport that is so popular in our region and is growing on the national level,” said Farrell. “Because the NCAA championship is conducted across Divisions I and II, UC San Diego despite its Division II status in its other sports, is eligible to compete in the Big West in this sport.“It should be noted that the creation of this championship is the culmination of a year’s worth of work within the conference that has engaged both the sport’s coaches and administrators. UC San Diego’s consideration as a member in men’s volleyball has been discussed throughout that process and has no relation to its current consideration of Division I membership.”The six programs, which previously have competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation since 1993, come to the newly formed conference having played a prominent role in men’s volleyball on the national scene.The schools have produced five NCAA national championships, 12 runner-up finishes and 26 Final Four appearances since 1970. UC Irvine won four national titles over a seven-year period, including 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013. Since 2008, five of the conference members have made at least one appearance in the NCAA Championship.“Having the Big West Conference establish the first Division I men’s volleyball conference was an important step in solidifying a commitment to the sport and the student-athletes that participate.“The league athletic directors are committed to the highest level of success academically and athletically by our student-athletes. The growth and success of the sport aligns perfectly with the Big West’s values and goals. Our teams will be in position to continue to achieve at the highest level every year.“Since 2002, Big West teams have played in seven NCAA title matches, including UC Irvine who has won four NCAA championships in the last 10 years. These teams have clearly been a force in the sport of men’s volleyball and relish the role of leadership and engagement with the sport.”“I really believe it’s one of the single best things I’ve seen happen to men’s volleyball in all the years I’ve been a part of it as a player, assistant coach and head coach. I do believe that it’s going to give men’s volleyball a stronger position to have a traditional conference back our sport. My ultimate goal would be that it would help spur even more growth throughout men’s volleyball and within our championship with the NCAA.“Men’s volleyball makes a lot of sense in the Big West. It’s a legitimate sport for the Big West to play for national championships and to get the Big West patch on these schools when they’re participating. It’s a wonderful endorsement by our conference to have faith in what we’re doing to our sport that they want to be a part of this. I think it validates 20-30 years of work that men’s volleyball coaches within the Big West have been putting in, and I’m super excited about it.”“This is something that has been a dream of men’s volleyball for some time. To be a part of the first conference, to take a step in that direction of official growth is exciting for us. It’s also exciting to be a part of the first conference in the United States where we actually now offer all three sports, from women’s volleyball to sand volleyball to men’s volleyball. It’s exciting to be part of truly a volleyball conference.“It’s always nice to able to unify your brand around not just one institution but several institutions. All of the institutions within the Big West as far as men’s volleyball goes have demonstrated success over the years.”“The Big West is to be commended for their support of Men’s Volleyball and their decision to become the first traditional division one conference to sponsor Men’s Volleyball. As a coach, I am very appreciative of Dennis Farrell and his leadership team for believing in us and making this happen.“From its inception the Big West will provide our fans with an exciting and nationally competitive schedule. Five of the six schools have qualified for the NCAA Tournament during the past seven years and continue to be among the nation’s best men’s volleyball programs.”“The decision by the Big West to make men’s volleyball a conference sport is ground-breaking! For an established DI conference to commit to men’s volleyball during these challenging times sends a positive message to the entire Olympic sports community that growth is possible.“Congrats to all in the Big West for seeing the opportunities in men’s volleyball and having the will to make this unprecedented choice!”• 5 National Championships• 12 National Runner-Ups• 26 Final Four Appearances• 6 AVCA National Players of the Year• 6 National Coaches of the Year• 7 AVCA National Newcomers of the Year• At least one No. 1 team in 16 of last 18 years2013 – Taylor Crabb, Long Beach State2008 – Paul Lotman, Long Beach State (co)2006 – Jayson Jablonsky, UC Irvine2003 – Costas Theocharidis, Hawai‘i2001 – Costas Theocharidis, Hawai‘i1996 – Yuval Katz, Hawai‘i (co)1992 – Brent Hilliard, Long Beach State2016 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State2010 – Jonas Umlauft, Hawai‘i2008 – Cody Loe, CSUN2006 – Brent Asuka, UC Irvine2004 – Evan Patak, UC Santa Barbara2003 – Tyler Hildebrand, Long Beach State2000 – Costas Theocharidis, Hawai‘i2006 – John Speraw, UC Irvine2004 – Alan Knipe, Long Beach State2002 – Mike Wilton, Hawai‘i1995 – Mike Wilton, Hawai‘i1991 – Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State2013 – David Kniffin, UC Irvine2004 – Jeff Campbell, CSUN2002 – Mike Wilton, Hawai‘i1995 – Mike Wilton, Hawai‘i1993 – John Price, CSUN1991 – Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State1990 – Ray Ratelle, Long Beach State2016 – Long Beach State (national semifinalist)2015 – UC Irvine (national semifinalist)2015 – Hawai‘i (play-in)2011 – UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)2010 – CSUN (national semifinalist)2008 – Long Beach State (national semifinalist)2006 – UC Irvine (national semifinalist)2004 – Long Beach State (national runner-up)2002 – Hawai‘i (national champion)*1999 – Long Beach State (national runner-up)1996 – Hawai‘i (national runner-up)1995 – Hawai‘i (national semifinalist)1993 – CSUN (national runner-up)1990 – Long Beach State (national runner-up)1988 – UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)1975 – UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)1974 – UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)1973 – Long Beach State (national runner-up)1972 – UC Santa Barbara (national semifinalist)1971 – UC Santa Barbara (national runner-up)1970 – Long Beach State (national runner-up)1970 – UC Santa Barbara (national semifinalist)* Later vacated due to use of ineligible player2016 – Long Beach State2015 – UC Irvine, Hawai‘i2014 – UC Irvine, Long Beach State2013 – UC Irvine2012 – UC Irvine2011 – None2010 – CSUN2009 – UC Irvine, CSUN2008 – CSUN2007 – UC Irvine2006 – UC Irvine, Long Beach State2005 – None2004 – Hawai‘i2003 – Hawai‘i, UC Irvine2002 – Hawai‘i2001 – Hawai‘i, Long Beach State2000 – Long Beach State1999 – Long Beach State