Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – The 2023 Midwest Conference (MWC) Volleyball Tournament begins on Friday, November 10, as the top four teams compete for the tournament title and the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Second seed Illinois College will face third seed Lake Forest College in the opening match at 4:30 p.m., followed by host and top seed Cornell College taking on fourth seed Grinnell College at 7:00 p.m. The two winners will advance to the championship match on Saturday, November 12, at 1:00 p.m.
 
The No. 3 regionally-ranked Rams of Cornell College went undefeated in league play (20-7 overall) to win their eleventh consecutive MWC championship dating back to 2012. Cornell has won the last two tournament titles and eight of the last ten.
 
Illinois College enters the weekend with its highest seed in the four-team tournament era. The Lady Blues went 7-1 in MWC play (17-12 overall) to make their fifth consecutive MWC Tournament appearance.
 
Lake Forest College is back in the MWC Tournament after a run to the title match a year ago. The Foresters finished the 2023 campaign 6-2 against league opponents (17-7 overall).
 
Grinnell College makes its seventh consecutive MWC postseason appearance after a 5-3 record in MWC play (13-16 overall). The Pioneers have advanced to the title match in two of the last three tournaments, including winning their lone title in 2019. 
 
For all updates on the tournament, visit the MWC Volleyball Tournament page.
 
The full weekend schedule is as follows:
 
Friday, November 10
Semi-Final #1: 4:30 PM -- #3 Lake Forest College vs. #2 Illinois College
Semi-Final #2: 7:00 PM* -- #4 Grinnell College vs. #1 Cornell College
*Or at least one hour following the conclusion of the 4:30 PM match

Saturday, November 11
Final: 1:00 PM -- Winner of Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final #2