CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The 2026 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women's Volleyball Tournament is set to begin with the first round tonight, Tuesday, November 10, in Indianola, Iowa and Waverly, Iowa. The six teams in this year's tournament are battling for the conference's automatic qualifying bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament.
No. 6 Coe College (10-17 overall, 3-4 A-R-C) will face off against No. 3 Simpson College (17-9 overall, 4-3 A-R-C). When the Kohawks and Storm met on October 16, Simpson won in straight sets in Cedar Rapids. Coe is making their 25th appearance in the tournament and Simpson is making their 27th trip.
The match is slated for 7:00 p.m. from Cowles Fieldhouse on the campus of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. The winner will advance to play No. 2 Buena Vista University on Thursday, November 12 in Storm Lake, Iowa.
No. 5 Nebraska Wesleyan University (15-10 overall, 3-4 A-R-C) is set to head to Waverly, Iowa to square off with No. 4 Wartburg College (18-11 overall, 4-3 A-R-C). These two teams met on November 3 and the Knights won in four sets. Nebraska Wesleyan is making their eighth tournament appearance since joining the league and Wartburg is appearing for the 35th time.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. from Levick Arena on the campus of Wartburg College. The winner will advance to face No. 1 University of Dubuque on Thursday, November 12 in Dubuque, Iowa.
The University of Dubuque Spartans (25-5 overall, 7-0 A-R-C) secured the No. 1 seed in the tournament and a first round bye. UD is making their 29th trip to the tournament. The Spartans will face the winner of No. 4 Wartburg and No. 5 Nebraska Wesleyan on Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. from Stoltz Arena on the campus of the University of Dubuque.
The Buena Vista University Beavers (22-3 overall, 5-2 A-R-C) finished second in the conference standings, claiming a first round bye in the tournament. The Beavers are entering their 26th tournament and first since 2022. They are set to play the winner of No. 3 Simpson and No. 6 Coe on Thursday, November 12 in Storm Lake, Iowa at 7:00 p.m. inside Siebens Fieldhouse.
Admission:
Ticket prices will be $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students without a valid A-R-C ID and seniors (60 and older). Children 5 and under, and all current students with valid A-R-C ID shall be admitted free.
Live Stream:
A live stream will be provided through the
American Rivers Sports Network.
Merchandise:
Merchandise is available through the league's
Game One partnership.
First Round - Tuesday, November 10
No. 5 Nebraska Wesleyan University at No. 4 Wartburg College - 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 Coe College at No. 3 Simpson College - 7:00 p.m.
Semifinals - Thursday, November 12
No. 4/5 at No. 1 University of Dubuque - 7:00 p.m.
No. 3/6 at No. 2 Buena Vista University - 7:00 p.m.
Championship - Saturday, November 14
Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner - TBD
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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 eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
