INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After it will spend its first three seasons playing as an independent, Missouri S&T's men's volleyball team will have a conference affiliation beginning with the 2025-26 academic year as the Great Lakes Valley Conference will begin sponsoring a championship in that sport.

The Miners will be among seven institutions that will make up the GLVC men's volleyball structure, five of which are current full-time members of the conference.  S&T will be part of a league that will include Maryville, Quincy, Rockhurst and Southwest Baptist, as well as associate members Roosevelt and Thomas More, two teams that S&T defeated during the 2024 season.

Missouri S&T has competed in men's volleyball for the last two seasons, going 12-9 during its inaugural campaign in 2023 and finishing 10-12 in 2024.  The Miners will compete as an independent again during the 2025 season – their third season of play -- before the GLVC begins conference play in 2026.

"Today is a great day for Missouri S&T men's volleyball and the GLVC," said Miner head coach Ryan Thompson. "We are excited to be joining the GLVC like all of our sports on campus and look forward to the opportunity to compete for GLVC championships in the future."

Quincy has the longest run in men's volleyball among the full-time GLVC schools as it has had the sport for 13 years.  Maryville started its men's volleyball program one year before S&T did in 2022, while Rockhurst and Southwest Baptist will have their inaugural seasons in 2025.

Meanwhile, Thomas More has had its program in place for six seasons and Roosevelt has competed in the sport for the past four years.  Thomas More, based in Crestview Hills, Ky., competes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference while Roosevelt, which is based in Chicago, is going into its first season in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in its other sports.

The GLVC will conduct its first championship tournament in men's volleyball as a four-team, single-elimination tournament from March 23-25, 2026 at a site to be determined.

With Thursday's announcement, all of 17 Missouri S&T's athletic teams will be competing for championships in the GLVC beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.