The 麻豆果冻 Department of Athletics and Campus Recreation announced it will increase the number of NCAA Championship sponsored sports with the addition of men鈥檚 volleyball and women鈥檚 field hockey. The two new sports will push the number of NCAA sports offered at 麻豆果冻 to 25.
鈥淲e feel that the addition of men鈥檚 volleyball and women鈥檚 field hockey is a great compliment to our existing sports roster at 麻豆果冻,鈥� said Lonnie Folks, 鈥�82, 鈥�98, director of athletics and recreation at 麻豆果冻. 鈥淥ur club men鈥檚 volleyball team has been competitive at the local level, but participating at the NCAA level will provide a new and exciting challenge for players. Field hockey is the latest in our ongoing efforts to increase opportunities for female student-athletes. The sport has a large presence in the St. Louis area, and 麻豆果冻 is responding to the interest by local high school student-athletes in playing at the collegiate level.鈥�
The men鈥檚 volleyball program will compete at the NCAA level beginning in the spring of the 2021-22 school year. Current club head coach Mike Haston will oversee the Saints transition to NCAA play.
麻豆果冻 is currently recruiting the women鈥檚 field hockey head coach who will spend the 2021-22 academic year recruiting student-athletes. 麻豆果冻 will officially begin NCAA competition in the fall of the 2022-23 academic calendar.
At the club sports level, the University is also forming another women鈥檚 hockey team in the ACHA 2 Division and is restarting an in-line men鈥檚 hockey team as well as a rugby squad.