Missouri State University

St. LOUIS, Mo. -- Missouri State University will host Missouri Valley Conference postseason championships for women’s soccer and baseball during the 2011-12 athletic season, MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin announced Friday.

MSU hosts the State Farm MVC Women’s Soccer Championship for the third time, Nov. 4-6 at Cooper Family Soccer Complex. The Bears also hosted in 1997 and 1999, advancing to the semifinals in 1997 and losing the title match in three overtimes in 1999.

“I’m excited for our fans that these championships are coming to Springfield and would like to thank the administrators at each Valley school for making this possible,” Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats said. “I would also like to thank Matt Gifford and the Springfield Cardinals for their cooperation with the Baseball Championship, and am eager for the Springfield community to support one of the MVC’s premiere on-campus postseason championships in May.”

Hammons Field hosts its third State Farm MVC Baseball Championship May 22-26. The Bears previously hosted the league’s postseason tournament in 2004 and 2007, going 1-2 each time.

Elgin’s announcement of the complete list of dates and sites for the various Missouri Valley Conference sports championships for the 2011-12 athletic season includes a recommendation from the league’s Joint Committee (faculty athletics representatives, directors of athletics and senior woman administrators of each institution) to bring the 2011 State Farm MVC Women’s Soccer Championship to Springfield, Mo., the 2011 State Farm MVC Men’s Soccer Championship to Omaha, Neb.; the 2011 State Farm MVC Volleyball Championship to Cedar Falls, Iowa; the 2012 State Farm MVC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Team Championship to Omaha, Neb.; the 2012 State Farm MVC Men’s Tennis Individual Championship to Des Moines, Iowa; and the 2012 State Farm Baseball Championship to Springfield, Mo.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: The 2011 State Farm MVC Women’s Soccer Tournament will be at Springfield, Mo., and Missouri State will host the tournament at the Cooper Family Soccer Complex, on Nov. 4-6.  The top six teams (of seven) advance to the championship, and the top two seeds receive a bye in the first round.   First-round games are on campus sites - Sunday, Oct. 30.  The semifinals are Friday, Nov. 4, and the championship is Sunday, Nov. 6.  The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.  Last year in Omaha, Neb., Creighton won the league tournament title.  Missouri State has not hosted the women’s soccer championship since 1999.

MEN’S SOCCER: The 2011 State Farm MVC Men’s Soccer Tournament will be in Omaha, Neb., and will be played at the Michael G. Morrison, S.J. Stadium, on Nov. 9-11-13.  The tournament is a Wednesday-Friday-Sunday format, with six (of eight) teams advancing to the championship.  The opening round will be played Wednesday, the semifinals on Friday, and the championship match on Sunday, Nov. 13.  The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.  Michael G. Morrison, S.J. Stadium seats more than 7,000 and last served as host for the men’s championship in 2007.  In 2010, Bradley and Creighton represented The Valley in the NCAA Tournament. 

VOLLEYBALL: The 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference volleyball championship is in Cedar Falls, Iowa, at McLeod Center.  UNI also hosted the tournament in 2010.  The tournament will be held on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 24-26, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  Last year, for the second time in league history, a league-high four MVC teams were selected as part of the field of 64 teams to play for the 2010 NCAA title.  The Panthers have been among the league’s best for average attendance in recent seasons, and carry a 36-game conference regular-season winning streak into next season. 

BASEBALL: The 2012 State Farm MVC Baseball Championship will be played at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo.  Missouri State will host the tournament, which will be played May 22-26.  The champion of the tournament, which was awarded on a bid basis, receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The 2012 State Farm MVC Baseball Championship will feature all eight teams, and Creighton is the defending champion.  Completed in 2004, Hammons Field is a minor league ballpark in downtown Springfield, and it has a seating capacity of 7,986, plus an additional 2,500 general admission seats.  Missouri State has hosted the tournament at Hammons Field twice previously (2004 and 2007). 

TENNIS:  The 2012 State Farm MVC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Team Championship will be in Omaha, Neb., and Creighton will serve as host.   The championship will be played April 27-29, 2012, at the Koch Family Tennis Center.  The Koch Center has 24 total courts, including 18 outdoor courts.   Indoor courts are also available at the Hanscom Indoor Tennis Center in case of inclement weather.  Drake was awarded the men’s individual tennis meet on Jan. 20-22, 2012, while Northern Iowa will host the women’s individual meet on Oct. 9-11, 2011.

The State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship -- the 22nd consecutive men’s tournament in St. Louis -- will feature all 10 Missouri Valley Conference schools and will be played at Scottrade Center.  For the seventh-straight year, the tournament will begin on Thursday and end on Sunday (March 1-4).  All nine games will be televised, and the championship game will be carried on CBS. 

The State Farm MVC Women’s Basketball Championship -- the fifth consecutive women’s tournament in St. Charles -- will feature all 10 Missouri Valley Conference schools and will be played at The Family Arena.  The tournament will begin on Thursday and end on Sunday (March 8-11) with the semifinals and finals on Fox Sports Midwest. 

Other hosts for league championships in 2011-12 include Indiana State (men’s and women’s cross country; women’s golf); UNI (men’s and women’s indoor track & field); Southern Illinois (women’s swimming & diving); and Wichita State (men’s and women’s outdoor track & field; men’s golf).

A decision on the 2012 State Farm Softball Championship site will be made after the softball coaches meeting in July.   All site awards are subject to ratification at the Missouri Valley Conference Presidents’ Council meeting, which takes place June 10.