Central State University will add Men’s Volleyball to the Athletic department in January 2021.
“I think this brings a level of excitement to the university and to our students,” Athletics Director Tara Owens said. “There’s not that much to do out here, and we are just trying to find fun things for students to do.”
Owens said that the university received a $150,000 grant, $50,000 a year for three years, from USAA Volleyball and the First Point Volleyball Foundation to start the program. Both organizations would like to diversify college volleyball.
“We will provide that diversity, and we will do that well,” Owens said.
Central State University President Jackson Hammond announced the volleyball initiative at a press conference Sept. 3, 2019. She noted that Central State already has a women’s volleyball team. “We feel like we would be remiss if we didn’t offer those same opportunities to men’s volleyball,” Jackson-Hammond said.
Owens said that Central State will compete against both Division I and Division II teams in men’s volleyball. “It gives us an opportunity to create more revenue, because unlike our basketball teams, this volleyball conference will be Division I and II. We’ll be playing schools like Ohio State University and UCLA,” Owens said.
Owens said that the university is working on a tight timeline to get the men’s program up and running. “We have a year to get everything -- coaches, staff, and recruits -- and to make sure we are ready,” Owens said. “Staffing and scholarships are what we are focused on right now.”
If all goes according to plan, Marauder men will hit the volleyball court next year. “We are very excited about it,” Owens said. “I can’t wait for our first men’s volleyball game!”