LATROBE, PA — Saint Vincent College, in conjunction with SportsPITTSBURGH, will serve as the host for the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship, scheduled for Nov. 17-19 at Duquesne University’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
This will mark the second time in four years in which Saint Vincent College will host the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship at Duquesne, after successfully doing so in Nov. 2018. It was the first time that a Presidents’ Athletic Conference member was selected to host a NCAA championship event.
“I believe the success of these championships is because of all of the hard work and the partnerships we created in the last cycle,” said Sue Hozak, Saint Vincent College associate athletic director and head women’s volleyball coach. “This is why we have been so lucky with these bids. The Pittsburgh championship in 2018 was viewed by many in NCAA Division III volleyball as a tough act to follow and is still being talked about to this day."
In a virtual press conference conducted via Zoom on Thursday, Hozak joined local officials, SportsPittsburgh representatives and athletic administrators from Clarion University, Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University in discussing the 11 NCAA hosting bids awarded to the western Pennsylvania region over the next five years. Encompassing all three NCAA divisions, they include regional or national championship events in women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling and women’s gymnastics.
"To receive the 11 championship hosts from the NCAA while still holding several events in the coming years shows that the NCAA is satisfied with how we have held championships in the past," said Jennifer Hawkins, SportsPITTSBURGH executive director. "We are excited to continue the success from years past to welcome student-athletes, families and fans in the coming years."
"Pittsburgh is a sports town and the combination with being a college town, this gives us a chance to hold these various championships and be a very hospitable city," said Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto. "In the past, we have shown a great success of welcoming these championships and look forward to the next championships in Pittsburgh."
Having previously hosted the event less than two years ago, Hozak believes she and her staff are well-prepared for 2022.
"Our staff will review all of our notes and put together a timeline and get right to it," Hozak said about the short turn around for the 2022 championship. "With the exceptional sports tradition that Pittsburgh has, I am sure we will provide an amazing event for everyone that will return to the city."
Sites were recommended by the respective sport committees, made up of coaches and administrators from NCAA member schools and conferences, and ultimately approved within the Division III governance structure.
---
FOLLOW SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE BEARCAT ATHLETICS
Twitter: @SVC_Bearcats
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintVincentBearcats
Instagram: @SVC_Bearcats
YouTube: SVCBearcats
FOLLOW SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE
Twitter: @MySaintVincent
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/saintvincentcollege
Instagram: @SaintVincentCollege
YouTube: Saint Vincent College