The Northern Kentucky University men's volleyball program is now officially a member of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. The Norse will have their first season of competition in 2026.

“As one of the premier men’s volleyball conferences competing for the National Collegiate men’s volleyball championship, we are pleased to welcome Northern Kentucky as a member of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association,” MIVA commissioner Tim O’Brien said. “NKU fits perfectly in the MIVA footprint and will be an incredibly valued member that will help strengthen and stabilize our conference as the collegiate landscape continues to shift and the sport of men’s volleyball continues to grow.” 

Northern Kentucky is to be led by Jim Palilonis, the first head coach in the history of the program. Palilonis has been in the MIVA for nearly 20 years, spending three years as an assistant coach at Purdue Fort Wayne after 16 at Ball State. In 18 of those 19 seasons, Palilonis' teams were .500 or better.

"I am honored and grateful to be accepted into such a prestigious conference as the MIVA," Palilonis said. "After spending many years at two of the older member institutions in the MIVA, I understand the rich tradition and history of those who have come before us. I also have tremendous respect for my fellow colleagues who are currently making the MIVA one of the strongest in the country. The opportunity to play at the highest level against the best competition is very exciting as we build our program at Northern Kentucky."

The Norse will call Regents Hall home. The arena, first opened in 1972, currently holds just over 1,346 seats and has been hosting athletic, campus and community events since then. Regents Hall is connected to the A.D. Albright Health Center, which also hosts the Campus Recreation Center, located on the south end of campus. The arena is also home to NKU's women's volleyball program.

"When we launched this new program, our aim was more than just building a team; it was to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete for championships at the highest level," Northern Kentucky Director of Athletics Christina Roybal said. "Joining the MIVA has made that goal a reality."

With the addition of Northern Kentucky, the MIVA has seven Division I programs: Ball State, Ohio State, Lindenwood, Loyola Chicago, Northern Kentucky, Purdue Fort Wayne and Queens. Division II programs Lewis and McKendree round out the nine-team league.

About Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky will be playing its inaugural season of men's volleyball in 2026. Northern Kentucky has 22 sports, the majority of which compete in the Horizon League. NKU reclassified to Division I in 2012 after a storied history in Division II.

NKU offers associate's degrees in a limited number of areas and eight bachelor's degrees. Undergraduate students have a choice of 73 majors and 89 minors. Students can also choose from among more than 200 student clubs and organizations ranging from disciplinary clubs such as the biology club to service organizations, advocacy groups, Greek organizations, sports clubs, faith-based organizations, leadership societies and more.

About the MIVA
The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association is the country’s longest-standing Division I/II men’s volleyball conference. The MIVA was established in 1961 and has been a home for 46 men’s volleyball programs over its 63-year history. MIVA members have won five national championships. MIVA membership includes schools from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

MIVA Membership
Ball State: 1961-present 
Ohio State: 1961-present 
Purdue Fort Wayne: 1981-present 
Lewis: 1994-present 
Loyola Chicago: 1996-present 
Lindenwood: 2013-present 
McKendree: 2014-present 
Queens: 2024-present
Northern Kentucky: 2025-present