Postseason NIVC Tournament Overview
The National Invitational Volleyball Championship will be an annual tournament involving 16 to 32 of the nation's top women's Division I Volleyball teams. All games, including the semifinals and championship, are hosted by participating schools. Every round is single elimination.
2026 Postseason NIVC
The Postseason NIVC provides deserving women’s volleyball programs an opportunity to extend their season, gain valuable practice time and compete in a postseason atmosphere. The tournament gives student-athletes the chance to play in front of passionate fans and build momentum for the following season.After receiving 21 signed contracts for the 2025 tournament, the NIVC elected to pause the event as schools navigated the changing landscape of college athletics, including budget adjustments and student-athlete compensation. That pause allowed programs time to evaluate their resources and adapt to those changes.For 2026, the NIVC is planning a field of 16 to 32 teams, with the final field size and tournament structure determined by signed contracts and confirmed commitments.
Format
The Postseason NIVC is a single-elimination tournament played at host schools. A 16-team field features four rounds, while a 32-team field features five rounds, concluding with the championship match. Host schools are responsible for streaming all matches played at their sites, including the championship.The field will include qualifying automatic berths and at-large selections. Conferences without an automatic qualifier will create additional opportunities for eligible at-large teams, within the final field size.The NIVC field and bracket will be announced on the evening of the NCAA Tournament selections.
New in 2026: Team Travel- Bus & Air
Teams will be responsible for booking all of their own travel arrangements. For teams traveling by air, the NIVC will cover the first $400 per passenger toward airfare.
Selection Day:
November 29
1 hour after NCAA Selection Show
Rounds 1 and 2:
December 3-6
*played on back-to-back days.
Round 3 and Semifinal Round:
December 9-13
*played on back-to-back days.
Championship Round:
December 13-15
