Head Coach Jessica Rinehart and the Northwest Missouri State volleyball program released its 2012 schedule on Monday in a new look MIAA.

The Bearcats open the season in West Palm Beach, Fla., at the Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic University. Northwest will open on Friday, Aug. 31 with Barry University and the host team before facing Saginaw Valley State and Lewis University on Saturday.

The following weekend Northwest will return to Missouri for the Missouri S&T Middle of Everywhere Classic in Rolla. The tournament slate for the Bearcats will consist of Upper Iowa, Southwest Minnesota, Southern Indiana, and Missouri S&T.

Northwest will open the MIAA schedule on Sept. 11 at rival Missouri Western before returning home for a five game home-stand. Opening the home series will be MIAA newcomer Lindenwood on Sept. 14 followed by Missouri Southern, Fort Hays State, Washburn and Southwest Baptist.

The Bearcats will conclude their non-conference tournament schedule at the Washburn Lady Blues Fall Classic. A quartet of regional foes will face the Bearcats including Southern Nazarene, Southwestern Oklahoma State, East Central and Harding.

On Oct. 12 a second new face to the league, Central Oklahoma, will travel to Maryville followed by the Bearcats matchup with Pittsburg State on Oct. 14.

Also the MIAA will sponsor a postseason tournament with the champion earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The tournament will be comprised of the top eight teams in the final standings and hosted on campus locations with the championship match being played Saturday, Nov. 17.

With the addition of new NCAA Division II conferences the Bearcats and MIAA will play regional NCAA rounds in the Central Region along with the Great American Conference and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Click here for the entire Northwest Missouri State 2012 schedule.

— NWMSU Sports Information —