via MCLA.us website/press release, by Jac Coyne

Virginia Tech Leads D-I Bracket

ATLANTA – For the second straight season, Virginia Tech is the top seed in the 2023 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance, which will be held from May 8-13 at the Round Rock (Texas) Multipurpose Complex.

The Hokies (14-2), which won the ALC championship on Sunday, will matchup with UMLC winner Michigan State (6-5). Second-seeded Georgia Tech (14-3), the SELC champs, draws LSA champion Texas (10-2), which is making its first appearance at nationals since 2014.

Liberty, which fell to the Hokies in the ALC title tilt, checks in at No. 3, where they will face No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (8-5). The Gauchos – a two-time MCLA champion – are making their first appearance since 2016.

SLC’s finest Chapman (15-3) checks in at No. 4 and will get a rematch with two-time defending national champion South Carolina (8-9), who was the last at-large team admitted to the field.

Florida (12-2), which spent much of the season ranked atop the coaches poll, was slotted fifth and draws RMLC runner-up Brigham Young (13-6) in the first round. No. 11 Simon Fraser (11-0), the only undefeated team in the bracket, will puts its record to the test against No. 6 Georgia (12-2).

A pair of conference runners-up meet in the No. 7-10 game as Northeastern (11-5) clashes with Concordia (11-5). The bracket wraps up with CLC champion Boston College (10-2), seeded No. 9, squaring off with RMLC winner and No. 8 Utah Valley (15-2).

“Whoever comes out of this tournament with the trophy will have to earn it,” said director of competition Gary Podesta. “This is a grueling tournament, and there will certainly be no games off.”

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2023 MCLA Division I National Championships
presented by New Balance

First Round Matchups – May 8, 2023 – Round Rock, Texas

No. 16 Michigan State (6-5) v. No. 1 Virginia Tech (14-2)
No. 15 Texas (10-2) v. No. 2 Georgia Tech (14-3)
No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (8-5) v. No. 3 Liberty (13-3)
No. 13 South Carolina (8-9) v. No. 4 Chapman (15-3)
No. 12 Brigham Young (13-6) v. No. 5 Florida (12-2)
No. 11 Simon Fraser (11-0) v. No. 6 Georgia (12-2)
No. 10 Northeastern (11-5) v. No. 7 Concordia (11-5)
No. 9 Boston College (10-2) v. No. 8 Utah Valley (15-2)

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Rhode Island Leads D-II Tourney Field

ATLANTA – After spending most of the season as the top team in the polls and running through its divisional schedule undefeated, Rhode Island has been installed as the No. 1 seed in the 2023 Division II MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance.

The Rams (14-1) coasted to the CLC title and will face No. 16 Florida Atlantic (5-6), which was the second at-large bid out of the SELC.

Cal State San Marcos (14-1), the automatic qualifier out of the SLC, checks in at No. 2 in the seeding and will matchup with Minn.-Duluth (5-7) in the first round. The Bulldogs were the second at-large out of the UMLC.

Fresh of its UMLC championship, St. Thomas (11-2) grabs the third spot and will tangle with Utah State (9-8), the second at-large out of the RMLC.

A pair of conference champions square off in the No. 4 vs. No. 13 tilt as PNCLL winner Montana (17-2) tackles RMLC trophy bearer Air Force (10-1).

LSA champion Missouri State (10-2) is slotted fifth and will face ALC winner UNC-Charlotte (10-2) while No. 6 Montana State (13-2) tees in up with No. 11 UC San Diego (12-3) in a matchup of conference runners-up.

No. 7 Grand Valley State (8-3) will face No. 10 Florida Gulf Coast (10-1) while No. 9 Dayton (9-5) and No. 8 Kennesaw State (10-3) round out the bracket.

“This is a loaded Division II field and should provide excitement in every contest,” said director of competition Gary Podesta. “There is going to be great action from the first game to the last.”

2023 MCLA Division II National Championships
presented by New Balance

First Round Matchups – May 8, 2023 – Round Rock, Texas

No. 16 Florida Atlantic (5-6) v. No. 1 Rhode Island (14-1)
No. 15 Minn.-Duluth (5-7) v. No. 2 Cal State San Marcos (14-1)
No. 14 Utah State (9-8) v. No. 3 St. Thomas (11-2)
No. 13 Air Force (10-1) v. No. 4 Montana (17-2)
No. 12 UNC-Charlotte (10-2) v. No. 5 Missouri State (10-2)
No. 11 UC San Diego (12-3) v. No. 6 Montana State (13-2)
No. 10 Florida Gulf Coast (10-1) v. No. 7 Grand Valley State (8-3)
No. 9 Dayton (9-5) v. No. 8 Kennesaw State (10-3)