College of DuPage to offer men's volleyball beginning in 2022-23 with aid of grant

A $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Foundation will help to establish a men’s volleyball program at College of DuPage. 

College of DuPage will launch a men’s volleyball program during the 2022-23 academic year, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Foundation, the college announced June 30.
 
COD is one of 15 institutions to receive grant funding as part of the NJCAA and First Point’s efforts to build a national men’s volleyball presence.
 
“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 NJCAA Foundation Executive Director Brian Luckett.

“We are appreciative of the 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.”
 
College of DuPage Director of Athletics and Recreation Ryan Kaiser said the college’s men’s volleyball program will create additional post-secondary athletic opportunities in the area. Currently, with more than 90 percent of DuPage County high schools supporting multiple levels of boys’ volleyball, the college’s program will allow athletes to continue playing their chosen sport at Illinois’ largest community college.
 
“Locally, many high schools have added boys’ volleyball over the last several years and Chicago is becoming a hot bed for recruiting,”’ he said. “We are excited to be at the forefront of this new emerging sport within the NJCAA, and this grant will help ease the financial burden of adding this sport to COD athletics.”’
 
The addition of men’s volleyball will increase the college’s number of athletic teams to 18. College of DuPage President Brian Caputo, Ph.D., expressed his excitement for the expanded athletic option COD now offers prospective students.
 
“Creating opportunities for our students to be successful both in and out of the classroom is a key component to the college’s mission,” he said.
 
Mick Haley, First Point Volleyball Foundation volunteer board member and American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Famer, applauded efforts to expand the sport at the two-year level.
 
“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,” he said. “Our hope is to see 35 or 40 more two-year colleges follow these 15 and sponsor men’s volleyball.”
 
College of DuPage is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving approximately 21,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The college grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in more than 50 areas of study.
 
 

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