Raiders earn NIVC postseason bid

FORT COLLINS, CO/DAYTON – The Wright State volleyball team saw its season extended Sunday night when the Raiders received a bid into the 2024 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Raiders will play in their fifth postseason in the last six years with their NIVC selection, earning an automatic berth after their Horizon League regular season title.

Wright State (24-6) earned an opening round bye and will take on the winner of Binghamton and Bowling Green on Thursday night in the Super 16 in a 7 p.m. start inside Bowling Green's Stroh Center.

A victory on Thursday would advance the Raiders to the Great 8 and a meeting with the winner of the pod consisting of host DePaul, Toledo, Omaha and Lindenwood. Arizona and Virginia joined Wright State as the only other schools in the field to earn first round byes.

"We are excited to continue our season in the NIVC," head coach Travers Green said. "Our season didn't finish the way we expected. This is an opportunity to write a different ending and most importantly, spend more time with this group."

Wright State has faced Binghamton once before, falling in five sets on a neutral court during the first weekend of the 2006 season, while the Raiders have faced Bowling Green 32 times in program history, most recently earlier this season in September inside McLin Gym, with Bowling Green winning in four sets. Wright State and Bowling Green also played a four-set match last September inside the Stroh Center.

Wright State, who enters the postseason with the No. 49 national ranking, grabbed a pair of major awards and nine overall honors in the 2024 Horizon League Volleyball Awards, led by Lauren Yacobucci's Setter of the Year honor. Travers Green was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year for the third straight season. Yacobucci's selection gives Wright State its third-straight HL Setter of the Year honor and fourth in five seasons. Wright State recorded three First Team honors, with Sam Ott and Reilly Zegunis joining Yacobucci, while Jenny Wessling earned Second Team recognition and both Haley Robinson and Katie Sowko were named to the All-Freshman Team.

The bracket launches with eight host schools, with action set to begin on Thursday, Dec. 4. The championship match is scheduled between Dec. 15-18 – all matches are held on campus locations. A total of 11 automatic qualifiers won or had a share of their regular season conference championship, and 14 teams in the field won at least 20 matches this season.

Produced by Triple Crown Sports, this is the 14th overall season for the NIVC and its seventh year in its current format. The NIVC was held for seven seasons (1989-95) as a 20-team event and was reestablished in 2017.

Players Mentioned

Sam Ott

Haley Robinson

Katie Sowko

Jenny Wessling

Lauren Yacobucci

Reilly Zegunis

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