GLVC Announces Sport Sponsorship of Men’s Lacrosse
INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) will increase its sports sponsorship from 21 to 22 with the inclusion of men’s lacrosse, it was announced today by the Conference office. The GLVC Council of Presidents formally approved the addition on May 24, with men’s lacrosse slated to begin in 2017-18.
The inaugural season of GLVC men’s lacrosse will feature six institutions comprised of two full-time Conference members and four associate members, including: University of Indianapolis (GLVC), Maryville University (GLVC), University of Alabama Huntsville (Gulf South Conference), University of Montevallo (Gulf South Conference), Shorter University (Gulf South Conference), and Young Harris College (Peach Belt Conference).
UIndy played its first season in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and this past year as an independent. Maryville recently completed its inaugural season as a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) – a league home to Rockhurst University men’s lacrosse the past two years after the Hawks played as a two-year independent since starting its program in 2013-14.
Rockhurst will move from the RMAC to the GLVC for the 2018-19 season to bring the league’s total to seven lacrosse members.
Affectionately known as the “Southern Four,” UAH (2016), Shorter (2013) and Young Harris (2013) have been competing as independents since their first seasons, while Montevallo is set for its inaugural campaign in the spring of 2018.
“The Great Lakes Valley Conference is pleased to expand our sports sponsorship with the addition of men’s lacrosse this year,” said GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich. “As the growth of lacrosse continues across the collegiate levels, institutions sponsoring the sport outpace conferences sponsoring the sport. To provide these student-athletes access to awards, championships and other benefits of conference membership, creative partnerships utilizing existing associate member strategies was our best approach to meeting sport sponsorship standards set forth by the NCAA. Ultimately, we hope our sponsorship of men’s and eventually women’s lacrosse will attract more full-time GLVC members to sponsor this sport that has grown in popularity within our region in recent years.”
Three full-time Conference members currently sponsor women’s lacrosse and compete in other Division II leagues, including: Indianapolis, McKendree University, and Rockhurst. Lewis University and Maryville are expected to begin sponsoring the sport for the 2018-19 season, leaving the GLVC one program shy of the required six to meet NCAA sport sponsorship standards.
The regular-season schedule and GLVC Championship Tournament information for men’s lacrosse will be announced at a later date.
For more information on GLVC lacrosse, stay tuned online at GLVCsports.com and @GLVCsports (#GLVCmlax) on Twitter throughout the summer.