For Immediate Release:  August 2, 2021

Nassau Community College Receives $10,000 Grant From NJCAA Foundation and First Point Volleyball Foundation

Men’s Volleyball to Begin 2022-2023 Academic Year

Garden City, NY — Nassau Community College has been selected to receive a $10,000 grant from the NJCAA Foundation and the First Point Volleyball Foundation to begin offering men’s volleyball as an official sport at the College for the 2021-2022 academic year.

SUNY Nassau was one of 15 NJCAA member colleges chosen to receive $10,000 in grant funds. The grants were awarded to schools who expressed an interest in starting a collegiate varsity men’s volleyball program on campus.

“At Nassau Community College we are focused on providing our students with a high-quality education, excellent support services, and extracurricular activities that provide a solid foundation for their future successes,” said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President, Nassau Community College. “We thank the NJCAA and the First Point Volleyball Foundation for providing the College with the opportunity to bring this athletic offering to our students. We truly are a community at SUNY Nassau and our coaches are laser-focused on the student-athlete achieving. We look forward to cheering on the Lions Men’s Volleyball team in the 2022-2023 season.”

The College is currently in the selection process for a head men’s volleyball coach and will start recruiting students for the spring 2023 season once the coach has been selected.

Men’s volleyball will become the 24th intercollegiate athletics offering at SUNY Nassau, joining baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, Esports, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, outdoor track and field, women’s volleyball and wrestling.

"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."

"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 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."

“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.”

About Nassau Community College

Nassau Community College is an institution where more than 14,000 full-time, part-time, Workforce Development and continuing education students start and continue their successful journey through higher education. More than 80 fields of study are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island. As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State SUNY System, Nassau Community College offers a high-quality education and excellent support services, providing students with a solid foundation for their future successes.

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. 

Media Contact:  Lindsey Angioletti | lindsey.angioletti@ncc.edu

ncc.edu/newsreleases

 

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