SHU Men's Volleyball Program Joins Conference

ADRIAN, Mich. - Siena Heights University's men's volleyball program will compete in a conference as it becomes an intercollegiate sport next year.

The Saints will make the jump from club to intercollegiate program in 2010 as a member of the Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference. The MAMVIC includes schools from throughout the country, including Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Florida and Colorado. The Saints have 15 varsity athletic programs that compete in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, however, the WHAC does not currently offer a conference championship in men's volleyball. With Siena Heights' addition, the MAMVIC will have 13 member schools divided into East and West divisions.

"This is a great opportunity for the men's volleyball program to join MAMVIC, which is the top conference in the NAIA and one of the best in all of small college athletics," said SHU Athletic Director Fred Smith. "This is a big step for our young program, but under Coach Mike Watkins' leadership, we have shown that we can compete successfully at the club level. It is now important that we continue to raise our level to compete in this fine conference."

The men's program, which operated as a club sport during its inaugural season last spring, finished 27-8 including victories over larger schools such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Bowling Green State University and the University of Pittsburgh. Smith said joining this conference will allow the Saints to compete in the NAIA's national invitational tournament, which may eventually become a national championship event under the NAIA.

"Joining the MAMVIC gives our program instant credibility," said SHU men's volleyball coach Mike Watkins. "The opportunity to compete for a conference championship will give our volleyball team a direction and a purpose that staying independent would not have been able to provide."

For more information on volleyball or any other athletic program at Siena Heights, please call 517-264-7870. More details can also be found by visiting the web site at www.sienaheights.edu.

For more information on the Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference, please visit www.mamvic.com.