NJCAA Announces Men's Volleyball Grant Recipients
Charlotte, NC - The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), in a joint effort with First Point Volleyball Foundation, has announced 15 colleges will be recipients of $10,000 grants to support each school's commitment to add men's volleyball as an intercollegiate varsity sport. The grant opportunity was first announced in May after the NJCAA Foundation and First Point Volleyball Foundation teamed up to support the initiative of expanding men's volleyball in the NJCAA to become a full NJCAA championship sport. See the list of recipient institutions below.
"As one of 19 First Point Foundation board members, I can say we are so proud to be able to support the NJCAA and these 15 institutions starting men's volleyball," said Mick Haley, First Point Volleyball Foundation volunteer board member and AVCA Hall of Famer. A former men's volleyball coach at Kellogg Community College (MI), Haley led the program to four NJCAA national championships, back when the sport was sponsored, before stints as head women's coach at the University of Texas, University of Southern California, and the 2000 US Women's Olympic Team in Sydney. "Two-year colleges present the most affordable opportunity for young people to play college volleyball during a time when students want to stay closer to home," Haley continued. "Our hope at First Point is to see 35 or 40 more two-year colleges follow these 15 and sponsor men's volleyball."
Grant recipients have begun fielding and sponsoring men's volleyball programs across the country. "A new era for men's volleyball on the campus of Passaic County Community College is close to reality thanks to this welcome and generous funding from the NJCAA Foundation and First Point Volleyball Foundation," says Wayne Martin, Passaic County (NJ) Director of Athletics. "Men's Volleyball as an emerging sport at the community college level can be an enormous asset to most athletics departments if carefully planned," explained Mr. Martin. "Volleyball is action packed, exciting to watch, and marketable as a potential pathway for recreational volleyball enthusiasts to join an intercollegiate program."
First Point Volleyball Foundation is dedicated to growing volleyball across all levels, ages and demographics. Boys' volleyball is the fastest growing team sport in the United States for high school boys. Over 80 universities have added men's volleyball in the last five years – mostly at the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA levels, and now at the two-year college level.
"As we work to prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games, all of us at USA Volleyball are excited by this awesome news of 15 newly announced men's collegiate volleyball programs at two-year colleges," stated John Speraw, First Point Volleyball Foundation's Founder and volunteer Chairman and head coach of the US Men's National Team and UCLA Men's Volleyball. "I suspect it won't be long before an NJCAA athlete will play for Team USA," Speraw added. "I want to personally thank all the donors to First Point Volleyball Foundation, past and future, for making these grants possible."
NJCAA member colleges will begin competition as soon as Spring 2022 and a men's volleyball sport committee has already been established. The NJCAA announced that it will recognize men's volleyball as an emerging sport, along with three other sports, back in December 2020 and since then, incredible strides have been made.
"The ability to create more opportunities for student-athletes to compete in college and take part in a growing sport is one of the ultimate wins the NJCAA Foundation can achieve," said Brian Luckett, NJCAA Foundation Executive Director. "We are appreciative of First Point Volleyball Foundation for making this possible and the NJCAA member colleges who have stepped up to make history by bringing back men's volleyball to the association."
About First Point Volleyball Foundation
Founded in 2016 by John Speraw, head coach of the USA Men's National Team and UCLA Men's Volleyball and Wade Garard, First Point Volleyball Foundation exists to provide opportunities for young people to mature and develop through volleyball. Specifically focused on growing boys' and men's volleyball in the United States, First Point Volleyball Foundation initiates and celebrates FIRST POINTS whether that is a first point of a new collegiate team, or a new high school team, or a first point of competitive volleyball for a 12-year-old. The Foundation has three strategic initiatives: (1) Growing collegiate opportunities; (2) Growing high school boys' opportunities; and (3) the Extending Reach Diversity Initiative – expanding volleyball opportunities to boys and men of color.
About NJCAA Foundation
The mission of the NJCAA Foundation is to enhance the NJCAA national organization, student-athletes, member colleges and local communities through financial support, scholarships, program initiatives and community service.
NJCAA Men's Volleyball Grant Recipients
| Region | Member College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Mountain Community College | Phoenix, AZ |
| 3 | Finger Lakes Community College | Canandaigua, NY |
| 4 | Bryant & Stratton College - Wisconsin | Wauwatosa, WI |
| 4 | College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL |
| 10 | Richard Bland College | South Prince George, VA |
| 15 | Monroe College - New Rochelle | New Rochelle, NY |
| 15 | Monroe College - Bronx | Bronx, NY |
| 15 | Nassau Community College | Garden City, NY |
| 19 | Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing, NJ |
| 19 | Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA |
| 19 | Middlesex College | Edison, NJ |
| 19 | Northampton Community College | Bethlehem, PA |
| 19 | Ocean County College | Toms River, NJ |
| 19 | Passaic County Community College | Paterson, NJ |
| 19 | Union County College | Cranford, NJ |
