BLOOMINGTON, Ill./OSHKOSH, Wis. -- The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) went 1-1 in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament. The University of Dubuque Spartans grabbed a five-set thriller victory over Cornell College to advance to the regional semifinals while the Coe College Kohawks fell to Wisconsin-Whitewater.
It took almost every point possible to determine the winner in a five-set thriller (25-17, 25-27, 24-26, 25-11, 15-13), but the Univ. of Dubuque Spartans came out on top over Cornell College to advance to the regional semifinal round for the second consecutive season. The Spartans will face WashU tomorrow evening at 4:30 p.m. for the opportunity to punch a ticket to the regional final.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh Regional
Thursday, November 20 - Opening Round
Match 1: WashU (3) vs. Saint Benedict (0)
Match 2: Univ. of Dubuque (3) vs. Cornell (2)
Match 3: Edgewood vs. Gustavus Adolphus - 4:30 p.m.
Match 4: Wisconsin-Oshkosh vs. Greenville - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 21 - Regional Semifinals
Match 5: WashU vs. Univ. of Dubuque - 4:30 p.m.
Match 6: Match 3 Winner vs. Match 4 Winner - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 22 - Regional Final
Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner - 5:00 p.m.
Coe fell to Wisconsin-Whitewater from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in straight sets (21-25, 11-25, 15-25) in the opening round, to conclude their 2025 season.
First-year head coach April Elsbernd guided the Kohawks to a 21-10 overall record this season and earned the league's tournament title.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
