Syracuse (20-13, 12-8 Atlantic Coast) will participate in postseason volleyball for the first time in program history. Although the Orange may not have been selected to the 64-team NCAA field Sunday, SU was selected to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, a 32-team tournament for teams that failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

SU will face Albany (11-16, 11-1 America East) at Colgate University on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m. in the opening round. Albany won the regular season title in the America East, but was upset in the opening round of the conference tournament by Stony Brook. By winning its conference regular season, the Great Danes were invited to the tournament.

First introduced in 1989, the NIVC was in place for six years — last played in 1995. This year, Triple Crown Sports has brought the tournament back.

23 different conferences are represented in this tournament, with Syracuse the only ACC team. As the highest ranked ACC team to not qualify for the NCAA field, the Orange received an automatic bid. Albany has an RPI of 159, 45 spots behind the Orange at 114.

The two teams had two common opponents this season, Binghamton and Colgate. Both teams defeated Binghamton, as Albany won twice over the Bearcats in conference play. Meanwhile, both teams suffered setbacks to Colgate in nonconference play early on in the season.