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MIVA teams are planning to double-down on the conference opponent they play each week.
Lewis and Quincy unveiled they have revamped their 2021 conference schedules to play two-series on back-to-back days against the majority of their MIVA opponents.
This is the first time the Flyers and Hawks in their recent histories will use this conference schedule format. The double round-robin for the MIVA season has traditionally featured teams playing a home and road match against each conference opponent that are spread throughout the four-month season.
The updated format that is occuring in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic will reduce the amount of travel for both schools. Lewis and Quincy will still have seven road MIVA matches but will only have to travel to four schools instead of seven schools.
Both teams will play two-match series against all MIVA teams, except for one school.
Lewis will have a traditional home-and-home series against McKendree with the teams meeting on Feb. 26 at Lewis and then March 12 at McKendree. Quincy on those dates will have a home-and-home series with Lindenwood.
The time off between the opener and finale of those home-and-home series will also serve as the bye week for Lewis and Quincy.
The Flyers and Hawks each will start conference play on Feb. 5. With the exception of the home-and-home series and the bye week, Lewis and Quincy will play one two-match series per week.
The two teams will play their two-match series against each other March 26-27 at Lewis.
Lewis and Quincy are the only MIVA teams so far to release their 2021 seasons.
While the two-match series format is not typical in the MIVA, men’s volleyball programs that are geographically isolated from conference opponents have previously used this format. Hawai’i traditionally schedules two-match series versus Big West teams, and Charleston schedules two-match series against some EIVA schools.
Lewis 2021 MIVA schedule
Feb. 5 at Ohio State
Feb. 6 at Ohio State
Feb. 12 vs. Ball State
Feb. 13 vs. Ball State
Feb. 19 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Feb. 20 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Feb. 26 vs. McKendree
March 12 at McKendree
March 19 at Lindenwood
March 21 at Lindenwood
March 26 vs. Quincy
March 27 vs. Quincy
April 2 at Loyola
April 3 at Loyola
Quincy 2021 MIVA schedule
Feb. 5 vs. Loyola
Feb. 6 vs. Loyola
Feb. 12 at Purdue Fort Wayne
Feb. 13 at Purdue Fort Wayne
Feb. 18 at McKendree
Feb. 19 at McKendree
Feb. 26 vs. Lindenwood
March 12 at Lindenwood
March 19 vs. Ball State
March 20 vs. Ball State
March 26 at Lewis
March 27 at Lewis
April 2 vs. Ohio State
April 3 vs. Ohio State