Conference Carolinas

Conference Carolinas
Established 1930
Association NCAA
Division Division II
Members 11
Sports fielded 22 (men's: 11 (1 emerging); women's: 11)
Region North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia
Former names North State Conference (1930–1961)
Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1961–1995)
Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (1995–2007)
Headquarters High Point, North Carolina
Commissioner Alan Patterson
Website conferencecarolinas.com
Locations

Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) or the Carolinas Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) primarily in Division II, and as one of the four Division I conferences for men's volleyball. Originally formed in 1930, the league reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Conference Carolinas currently has 11 small college or university private institutions that make-up their membership.

History

Conference Carolinas dates to its inception on December 6, 1930. The conference was formed then as an athletic association "for the greater advantage of the small colleges in North Carolina". The official name given back then was the North State Intercollegiate Conference but known informally as the Old North State Conference. The birthplace was the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, and the seven charter members were Appalachian, Atlantic Christian (now Barton College), Catawba, Guilford, Elon, High Point, and Lenoir-Rhyne.

The conference followed a policy of expansion for a period of time. Western Carolina became a member in 1933, East Carolina in 1947, Pfeiffer in 1960, Newberry in 1961, and Presbyterian in 1964, followed closely by Mars Hill.

With the acceptance of the first member from South Carolina in Newberry College, a name change became necessary. Thus on May 20, 1961 the official name of the conference was changed to the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) but commonly known less formerly as the Carolinas Conference.

East Carolina resigned in 1962 to join the Southern Conference and Appalachian and Western Carolina followed. Football sponsorship in the Carolinas Conference was dropped in 1973 when Lenoir-Rhyne, Newberry, Presbyterian, and Mars Hill joined the South Atlantic Conference.

Pembroke State University became a first-time member in 1976 followed by Wingate College in 1979, and Lenoir-Rhyne rejoined in 1984.

While Guilford College withdrew in 1988, St. Andrews and Mount Olive were added that same year.

The 1989–90 academic year started a new era as Catawba, Elon, Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate all withdrew to compete in the first year that the South Atlantic Conference would provide championships in all sports, not just football.

The Carolinas Conference then added Belmont Abbey in 1989, Coker College in 1991, and Lees-McRae in 1993.

The 1993–94 academic year brought a change to the conference national affiliation. The conference began the process of transferring membership to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after years as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member. During the transition, it was a dual member of the NCAA's Division II and the NAIA's Division I.

The 1995–96 year brought dramatic change to the conference. First, full membership into NCAA Division II was acquired and NAIA affiliation dropped. Thus, this was the first official year of full competition and championship play for the conference in NCAA DII status. Secondly, this was also the same year that Erskine, Longwood, & Queens were accepted as full members of the conference. With Longwood becoming the first Virginia member, another name change occurred and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (known more universally as the 'CVAC') was born.

Following the 1997 academic year High Point resigned to join the NCAA DI ranks while in 1998 Limestone soon joined and were quickly followed by Anderson in 1999.

In 2003, Longwood University left the conference to explore possibilities in NCAA Division I. Then in 2005 the CVAC added Converse College as an affiliate member before becoming a full member starting in the 2007–08 season.

With the lone Virginia school in Longwood leaving, the league decided to go back to their roots and change their name to Conference Carolinas June 1st, 2007.

On June 1, 2011, King College and North Greenville University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Tennessee member in King.

In 2014, Emmanuel College (Georgia) and Southern Wesleyan University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Georgia member in Emmanuel. Southern Wesleyan began official full NCAA DII membership in 2016 while Emmanuel looks to start in 2017.

After 57 years as a league member Pfeiffer University moved down to the NCAA DIII ranks on June 1st, 2017. The league now has 11 full-time member institutions and one affiliate member (Chowan University -starting in 2016) and currently remains one of the elite NCAA D-II conferences in the nation.

Many institutions have been members of the league during its rich history including Anderson, Appalachian, Atlantic Christian (now Barton College), Belmont Abbey, Catawba, Coker, Converse, East Carolina, Erskine, Guilford, Elon, High Point, King, Lees-McRae, Lenoir-Rhyne, Limestone, Longwood, Mars Hill, Mount Olive, Newberry, North Greenville, Pembroke State, Pfeiffer, Presbyterian, Queens, St. Andrews, Western Carolina and Wingate.

Barton is the only remaining charter member followed in longevity by Mount Olive's joining in 1988.[1]

Member schools

Current members

Institution Location Founded Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined
Barton College Wilson, North Carolina 1902 1,200 Bulldogs           1930
Belmont Abbey College Belmont, North Carolina 1876 1,320 Crusaders           1989
Converse College Spartanburg, South Carolina 1889 750 Valkyries           2007
Emmanuel College Franklin Springs, Georgia 1919 760 Lions           2014
Erskine College Due West, South Carolina 1839 920 Flying Fleet           1995
King University Bristol, Tennessee 1867 1,800 Tornado           2011
Lees–McRae College Banner Elk, North Carolina 1899 800 Bobcats           1993
Limestone College Gaffney, South Carolina 1845 3,300 Saints           1998
University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, North Carolina 1951 2,500 Trojans           1988
North Greenville University Tigerville, South Carolina 1891 2,100 Crusaders           2011
Southern Wesleyan University Central, South Carolina 1906 2,000 Warriors           2014

Affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Sport Primary
Conference
Chowan University Murfreesboro, North Carolina 1848 1,316 Hawks           2016
(golf,
lacrosse);
2017
(soccer,
swim)
golf (W);
lacrosse (M);
lacrosse (W);
soccer (M);
soccer (W);
swimming & diving (W)
Central Intercollegiate

Former members

Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Current
Conference
Anderson University Anderson, South Carolina 1911 Trojans 1998 2010 South Atlantic
Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina 1899 Mountaineers 1930 1968 Sun Belt
(NCAA D-I)
Catawba College Salisbury, North Carolina 1851 Indians 1930 1989 South Atlantic
Coker College Hartsville, South Carolina 1908 Cobras 1991 2013 South Atlantic
East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina 1907 Pirates 1947 1962 The American
(NCAA D-I)
Elon University Elon, North Carolina 1889 Phoenix 1930 1989 Colonial Athletic
(NCAA D-I)
Guilford College Greensboro, North Carolina 1837 Quakers 1930 1988 Old Dominion
(NCAA D-III)
High Point University High Point, North Carolina 1924 Panthers 1930 1997 Big South
(NCAA D-I)
Lenoir–Rhyne University Hickory, North Carolina 1891 Bears 1930;
1984
1975;
1989
South Atlantic
Longwood University Farmville, Virginia 1839 Lancers 1995 2003 Big South
(NCAA D-I)
Mars Hill University Mars Hill, North Carolina 1856 Lions 1972;
1987
1975;
1989
South Atlantic
Newberry College Newberry, South Carolina 1856 Wolves 1961 1972 South Atlantic
University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina 1887 Braves 1976 1992 Peach Belt
Pfeiffer University Misenheimer, North Carolina 1885 Falcons 1960 2017 USA South
(NCAA D-III)
Presbyterian College Clinton, South Carolina 1880 Blue Hose 1965 1973 Big South
(NCAA D-I)
Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina 1857 Royals 1995 2013 South Atlantic
St. Andrews University Laurinburg, North Carolina 1958 Knights 1988 2012 Appalachian
(NAIA)
Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina 1889 Catamounts 1933 1969 Southern
(NCAA D-I)
Wingate University Wingate, North Carolina 1896 Bulldogs 1979 1989 South Atlantic

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

When Barton became the sixth member to sponsor men's volleyball in 2011–12, Conference Carolinas became the fourth official scholarship-granting conference in NCAA men's volleyball. It also became the first all-sports conference (i.e., one that sponsors men's and women's basketball) ever to sponsor men's volleyball as a scholarship sport,[2] and is also the first men's volleyball conference to consist solely of Division II members.

Conference Carolinas sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball Green tick
Basketball Green tick Green tick
Cross Country Green tick Green tick
Golf Green tick Green tick
Lacrosse Green tick Green tick
Soccer Green tick Green tick
Softball Green tick
Swimming & Diving Green tick Green tick
Tennis Green tick Green tick
Track & Field Indoor Green tick Green tick
Track & Field Outdoor Green tick Green tick
Volleyball Green tick Green tick

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country
Golf Lacrosse Soccer Swimming
& Diving
Tennis Track
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Volleyball Total
CC
Sports
Barton Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Belmont Abbey Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Emmanuel Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 11
Erskine Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 7
King Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Lees-McRae Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 8
Limestone Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 11
Mount Olive Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
North Greenville Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Southern Wesleyan Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 8
Totals 9 10 10 9 6 10 4 10 9 9 9 95
Affiliate Members
Chowan Green tick Green tick 2

Women's sponsored sports by school

School Basketball Cross
Country
Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming
& Diving
Tennis Track
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Volleyball Total
CC
Sports
Barton Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 11
Belmont Abbey Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Converse Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 11
Emmanuel Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 11
Erskine Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 8
King Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Lees-McRae Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 9
Limestone Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 11
Mount Olive Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
North Greenville Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Southern Wesleyan Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 10
Totals 11 11 10 10 11 11 5 11 10 10 11 111
Affiliate Members
Chowan Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 4

Other sponsored sports by school

School Men Women
Football Wrestling Bowling Field
Hockey
Belmont Abbey ECAC IND ECAC
Converse IND
Emmanuel ECAC
King ECAC
Limestone SAC ECAC ECAC
North Greenville IND

See also

References

  1. http://www.conferencecarolinas.com/archives/northstate/members
  2. Lopes, Vinnie (April 4, 2014). "The Little Conference That Could". Volleyball Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  3. "Conference Carolinas to Add Women's Swimming & Diving as 21st NCAA Championship Sport". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  4. "Barton announces addition of men's lacrosse as school's 22nd intercollegiate sport". Barton College. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  5. "Lees-McRae to add men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams in 2018-19". Lees-McRae College. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. "GSC adds North Greenville as football member". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
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