Orange County’s college-bound athletes will soon have another option at the Division II level.
Vanguard University in Costa Mesa announced Thursday that it has been accepted to join the NCAA Division II and the PacWest Conference.
Vanguard will remain a member of the NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference this upcoming school year before joining the PacWest in the fall of 2024.
The PacWest consists of four-year schools from California and Hawaii, including Concordia, Biola and Azusa Pacific among others.
Division II and NAIA schools can both offer student-athletes scholarships.
Vanguard won’t be eligible for the postseason in its first two seasons in the PacWest but could be participate in the 2026-27 school year if its meets the requirements.
Vanguard’s men’s volleyball team, which claimed an NAIA title this past season, will shift to the MPSF, the university stated.
