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JJC receives $10,000 Grant for Men’s Volleyball Program
Joliet Junior College has received a $10,000 grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation and First Point Volleyball Foundation to start a men’s volleyball program. The team is expected to begin competition during the spring 2024 season.
“It is a very exciting time for Joliet Junior College Athletics to be one of the first institutions to bring men’s volleyball to the NJCAA competition level,” said Director of Athletics Gregg Braun. “This sport is growing tremendously within our district and the state of Illinois, so for us to offer the opportunity for our high school student-athletes to continue competing in the sport while getting an amazing education is such a great match for all involved. We are very excited to watch this sport grow here at JJC!”
The popularity of men’s volleyball is exploding in the United States, and the fast-growing sport is an emerging sport for the NJCAA. While about 250 Illinois high schools have boys’ volleyball teams, there is limited opportunity for these student-athletes to continue their playing careers with only 22 college-level programs in the state. Currently, only two other NJCAA colleges in Region 4 offer men’s volleyball.
As the nation’s first community college, JJC is embracing the opportunity to once again lead the way and be one of the first junior colleges to introduce men’s volleyball to the state of Illinois and the Midwest region. One of 15 grant recipients, the college will be fulfilling a need within the community, providing the opportunity for local student-athletes to compete in a rising sport while building another bridge to bring students onto campus.
The team will practice and compete in the college’s Event Center, an 85,000-square-foot state-of-the-art athletic facility which opened in 2017. In addition, the JJC Athletics Department provides leadership, resources and support to its student-athletes from admissions through graduation, including two student-athlete retention specialists who serve as academic advisors.
"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 U.S. 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."
"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 Founder and volunteer chairman and head coach of the U.S. 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."
“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 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.”
Joliet Junior College is an NJCAA Region 4 Division III program that currently offers athletic opportunities in baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and men's wrestling as well as a cheerleading club team. The college's athletics department is dedicated to assisting student-athletes in academic, athletic and personal development, and committed to excellence, integrity, fairness, good sportsmanship and competitiveness in support of and alliance with the mission of the college.
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.
