BUFFALO, NY – The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) announced on Monday that Buffalo State has accepted an invitation to join the conference as an affiliate member in the sport of men's volleyball for the 2024-25 season. The inaugural men's volleyball team at Buffalo State will compete as an independent for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
"Men's volleyball sponsorship continues to grow in Division III and the AMCC is excited to be fueling that expansion," said Commissioner Donna Ledwin. "The additions of Buffalo State and Houghton ensure that the league will remain strong and competitive for many years to come."
"I would like to thank the AMCC and commissioner Donna Ledwin, and all of those involved in the selection of Buffalo State University to join as an affiliate member in men's volleyball," remarked director of athletics Renee Carlineo. "The conference provides strong competition and a regional schedule that will benefit our student-athletes and our university. We are grateful to have quickly found a home for our men's volleyball program and are excited for our first season of competition in 2023-24. Go Bengals!"
Head coach Daniel Miranda's squad will join AMCC member institutions Carlow, Hilbert, Mount Aloysius, Penn St.-Altoona, Penn St.-Behrend, Wells, and fellow newcomer Houghton to form a eight-team conference in 2024-25.
"We are extremely excited to be joining the AMCC Conference for men's volleyball. Thank you so much to the AMCC leadership for welcoming us in, and helping further build anticipation for our program and student-athletes' futures," Miranda stated. "We look forward to kicking off our program's history this upcoming 2023-24 season and competing for the AMCC Championship in 2024-25. Buffalo State Men's Volleyball is beyond grateful for this opportunity!"
Upon joining the AMCC, Buffalo State will immediately be eligible to compete for a conference championship and the automatic NCAA berth that is awarded to the winner of the postseason tournament.
Geneva and Penn St.-Behrend split the 2022-23 regular season championship with 12-1 conference records, earning first-round byes in the six-team postseason tournament that features the top three teams in the North and South divisions. Geneva captured the AMCC Championship in a five-set thriller over Penn St.-Behrend. The Golden Tornadoes, along with Hiram College, St. Vincent College, and Thiel College, will leave the conference following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season to join the Presidents Athletics Conference in 2024.
Buffalo State sponsors 15 of its 18 sports as a full member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), maintains affiliate membership in the Liberty League for football, and will compete in the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association.
FULL AMCC RELEASE
