About Alvernia University Athletics
Alvernia competes under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Crusaders compete at the Division III level, the largest competing level of the NCAA. Institutions with membership at this level do not provide athletic scholarships.
Starting in the 2009-10 school year, Alvernia will compete in the Commonwealth Conference of the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation, commonly known as the MAC. The MAC was founded in 1912 and currently consists of 16 member institutions including Albright, Alvernia, Arcadia, Delaware Valley, DeSales, Eastern, Elizabethtown, Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham, King’s, Lebanon Valley, Lycoming, Manhattanville, Messiah, Misericordia, Widener, and Wilkes. The MAC boasts 20 NCAA National Champions in a variety of sports over its 95-year existence.
Alvernia also competes in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). This is the largest collegiate conference in the nation, and includes colleges from all levels of the NCAA located in the Eastern States between Maine and North Carolina. Membership in the ECAC provides our teams with extra regional playoff opportunities and media exposure. Alvernia competes in the ECAC Southern Regional Championships.
Alvernia has made 22 total appearances in the NCAA Championships. Men's Basketball, which boasts six NCAA apperances, advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1997. Basseball, Field Hockey, Women's Basketball, and Men's Tennis have also made appearances in NCAA Championships.