Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Director Mike Wagner has announced the university plans to add men’s volleyball and women’s bowling for the 2020-2021 athletic year.
“Men’s volleyball and women’s bowling are emerging sports among the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin schools and the Midwest overall,” Wagner said. “With the addition of these two sports, high school students have another reason to consider attending Illinois Wesleyan.”
Wagner said there are more than 220 high schools in Illinois and more than 50 programs in the St. Louis region that sponsor men’s volleyball.
IWU becomes the sixth member of the CCIW to sponsor men’s volleyball. The league is now eligible for an automatic NCAA tournament bid.
IWU will compete in National Collegiate Bowling, which is comprised of about 90 programs which will compete in one division.
The volleyball team will play its home games at Shirk Center, while women’s bowling will compete at a Bloomington-Normal alley that’s yet to be determined.
The two additions bring to 24 the number of IWU’s intercollegiate sport offerings.
Wagner said IWU will begin searches for head coaches immediately.
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