Merrimack is headed back to the NEC.
The college announced Tuesday that it has accepted an invitation from the NEC to join the conference as an associate member in men’s volleyball for the 2027 season.
“We’re excited to join the NEC and to once again have a conference home,” coach Hayden West-Mather said in a statement. “The NEC is an excellent fit for Merrimack geographically and competitively, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to become part of a conference that continues to grow and invest in men’s volleyball.”
Merrimack was initially a member of the NEC for the program’s first two seasons.
The school, though, departed the NEC and joined the Metro Conference following the 2024 season. The Metro Conference does not sponsor men’s volleyball, and the conference realignment resulted in the Warriors competing as an independent for the last two seasons.
Merrimack as an independent was a combined 8-1 against current NEC teams, including a five-game road victory against Long Island in February. The Warriors also ended last season advancing to the IVA Tournament semifinals.
Merrimack during its previous stint in the NEC reached the NEC Tournament quarterfinals in back-to-back years.
The addition of Merrimack keeps the NEC at seven teams for the upcoming season. The NEC was at seven teams last season, but the conference champions Saint Francis previously announced it would leave and transition to a NCAA Division III school.
The NEC is one of seven conferences that receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.