The Great Lakes now extend to North Dakota – at least on a men’s volleyball map.
The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced recently that Jamestown will join its league as an associate member in men’s volleyball starting for the 2026 season.
“We’re pleased to be able to provide a home for the Jamestown’s men’s volleyball program,” GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich said in a statement. “Their inclusion helps us to grow our schedule and provide additional competition opportunities for all eight teams in the league.”
Jamestown, a private university in Jamestown North Dakota, is in the second year of a multiple-year transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
The Jimmies in 2024 finished in the top 10 of the national rankings and reached the NAIA National Championship for the fifth consecutive year. The team, though, last season in its final year at the NAIA level went 7-20.
The addition of Jamestown will expand the GLVC to eight teams for its inaugural season sponsoring men’s volleyball.
Five full-time GLVC schools will join the new men’s volleyball league – Maryville, Missouri S&T, Quincy, Rockhurst and first-year program Southwest Baptist. Thomas More and Roosevelt also will join Jamestown as associate members.
The inaugural GLVC men’s volleyball season will conclude with a four-team conference tournament. The GLVC as a first-year conference is not slated to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.