(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 11)—McKendree University officials have announced that men's volleyball will be added as the newest intercollegiate sport at the institution. The team is scheduled to begin play at the University in January 2014.
 
“Over the last few years, men's volleyball has grown in popularity, at the high school level and at the club level,” said McKendree director of athletic Chuck Brueggemann. “The timing for McKendree to add men's volleyball as our newest sport could not be better. We feel that there is great potential for growth in this sport, and we want to capitalize on the great student-athletes within the area.”
 
The addition of men's volleyball brings the total number of intercollegiate sports at McKendree to 22. According to Brueggemann, scholarships will be available for potential student-athletes.
 
McKendree becomes just the third school in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) to sponsor men's volleyball, joining Lewis University and Quincy University. Since men's volleyball is not sponsored as an NCAA Division II championship sport, McKendree will compete as an independent. The season for men's volleyball generally runs from January through early April.
 
The Bearcats did not have to go far to find the first coach for the McKendree men's volleyball program. Nickie Sanlin, who served as the assistant coach for the women's team in 2012, will take the reins of the Bearcats' newest sport. In her first year as an assistant coach with the McKendree women's volleyball team, Sanlin helped the Bearcats to a 15-16 record and a 9-9 mark in the school's first year as members of the GLVC.
 
“We couldn't be more pleased that Nickie has accepted the head coaching position for our new men's volleyball program,” said Brueggemann. “She brings a wealth of experience in coaching boy's club and high school volleyball, which will be crucial as we begin to build this program. Nickie was a great addition to Coach Lisa Orlet's women's volleyball staff here at McKendree, and I have no doubts that she will do a great job in building our newest program.”
 
Sanlin is no stranger to the world of men's volleyball. For the last three years, Sanlin has coached boy's club volleyball programs in the St. Louis metro area. She currently serves as a coach for the St. Louis Performance volleyball program. Sanlin has also been a coach for the USA High Performance program, which is a part of Team USA Volleyball.
 
In addition to her club experience, Sanlin served as the boy's head volleyball coach at Althoff Catholic High School in 2011 and 2012. Sanlin is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Advisory Committee for boy's volleyball.
 
“There are not many opportunities for boys to play volleyball at the collegiate level,” said Sanlin. “There is a great deal of talent – both in the St. Louis area and in the Metro-East – and we want to take advantage of that. I know we can build a talented, competitive team. At McKendree, we offer a quality education, and in the process offer prospective men's volleyball student-athletes a chance to compete at a high level.”
 
While McKendree will compete as an independent during its initial growth, Sanlin says that long-range goals for the program could include conference affiliation. “We need to make sure that we are bringing in quality student-athletes that can help us compete at a high level. Once we are consistent in that area, then we will look at expanding our horizons.”
 
As a player, Sanlin starred at Marshall University. She was a three-year starter during her career at Marshall, helping the Thundering Herd to a Conference USA title as a senior in 2005. Sanlin registered 245 kills and 84 blocks on her way to second-team All-Conference honors during her senior season. Sanlin also earned All-Tournament honors in leading Marshall to three straight wins on their way to the Conference USA Tournament championship.