MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's volleyball program will join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) in 2026, the conference announced on Wednesday morning.
The Bobcats are joining the MPSF along with Jessup. The 2026 MPSF men's volleyball season is set to include UC Merced, Jessup, BYU, Concordia, Menlo, Pepperdine, Stanford, UCLA, USC, and Vanguard.
"I am absolutely thrilled that UC Merced has been accepted into the MPSF, which has long set the standard for excellence in men's volleyball," said first year head coach Chris Carter. "Joining this prestigious conference marks an important moment for our program. This milestone not only strengthens our team but also provides our student-athletes with the incredible opportunity to compete at the highest level against some of the nation's elite programs. We are excited to bring the energy and tradition of MPSF Volleyball to the UC Merced community and to proudly represent our university on this premier stage."
UC Merced men's volleyball's inaugural season was in 2014 and the team joins the MPSF after competing in the California Pacific Conference since 2021. The Bobcats won the Cal Pac Regular Season Championship in 2024 and the Cal Pac Tournament Championship in 2025. Previously, UC Merced men's volleyball was affiliated with the GSAC, Cal Pac/GSAC/WHAC, and the Independents Conference.
The move to the MPSF coincides with UC Merced's move to NCAA Division II.
"We are excited to join the MPSF for men's volleyball," says UC Merced Executive Director of Recreation and Athletics David Dunham. "This is an outstanding conference competing at the highest levels nationally. The MPSF is a great fit for our men's volleyball program competitively and academically. I would also like to thank MPSF Commissioner Foti Mellis for his work with us through the membership process. We look forward to our first season in the conference."
"We are excited to welcome Jessup University and UC Merced to the MPSF in men's volleyball," said fifth-year MPSF Commissioner Foti Mellis. "Their addition reflects our conference's continued growth and strength, and we look forward to the energy, competition, and commitment they will bring to the court."
The MPSF has captured 18 NCAA Championships in men's volleyball since its inaugural season in 1993. Most recently, UCLA won back-to-back national championships in 2023-24. The spring 2026 MPSF membership accounted for four of the top ten teams ranked in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) top 20 poll in May.
