Bradley University Athletics

Volleyball To Face Bowling Green In First Round Of NIVC

NIVC Bracket

Volleyball 11/25/2018 9:54:00 PM

PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Volleyball will make the first post-season appearance in program history with the Braves facing Bowling Green in the opening round of the 2018 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) announced Sunday night.

Receiving an automatic spot in the 32-team field for the 2018 NIVC after a third-place Missouri Valley Conference finish this fall, Bradley will travel to Ames, Iowa, for its first-round matchup with Bowling Green which will be played Thursday at 4 p.m. The winner will face the winning team from Thursday's other opening-round match in Ames, Iowa, between Iowa State and MVC rival Drake (6:30 p.m.) Friday at 6:30 p.m. in a second-round matchup.

"We are excited about the opportunity to continue the season," said third-year Bradley head coach Carol Price-Torok. "We made some big improvements this year and I'm happy for this group to add to what has already been a historic season for our program."

Bowling Green earned an automatic spot in the NIVC field with the Falcons entering Thursday's contest with a 19-11 overall record, which included a 13-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Bradley and Bowling Green have met just once with the Falcons pulling out a five-set victory over the Braves at Robertson Memorial Field House in 2003.

The Braves closed the regular season with a 23-8 overall mark and were 13-5 in Valley play. Bradley's 23 wins in 2018 are 13 more than the team's total from 2017 to tie for the biggest win improvement in the country this fall. Stetson and Florida International both have had a 13-win improvement from last year.

In addition to the overall win total, the Braves were the first team in MVC history to finish in the top three of the league standings following a last-place finish the previous season. Bradley won 10 more games in Valley play compared to last year to tie the biggest one-season improvement in league history since the MVC went to an 18-game conference schedule in 1996.

Price-Torok was named MVC Coach of the Year for guiding the Braves to their historic improvement. Seniors Erica Haslag and Yavianliz Rosado both garnered First-Team All-MVC honors, while 2018 MVC Freshman of the Year Hannah Thompson was a Second-Team All-Valley pick.

I-74 rival Illinois State earned an at-large bid to this year's NCAA Tournament after reaching the second round of last year's NIVC.

Bradley is one of three MVC Volleyball teams to earn a spot in the 2018 NIVC field, with Drake and Valparaiso joining the Braves in the 32-team tournament.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Erica Haslag: OH; 5' 11"; Senior

#1 Yavianliz Rosado: DS/L; 5' 6"; Senior

#6 Hannah Thompson: OH; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Erica Haslag
: 5' 11"; Senior
: OH

#1 Yavianliz Rosado
: 5' 6"; Senior
: DS/L

#6 Hannah Thompson
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: OH

Volleyball To Face Bowling Green In First Round Of NIVC

Players Mentioned

#3 Erica Haslag

#1 Yavianliz Rosado

#6 Hannah Thompson

Players Mentioned

#3 Erica Haslag

#1 Yavianliz Rosado

#6 Hannah Thompson