Union, N.J. (9/14/10) - Kean University has recently announced that men's volleyball will be elevated to varsity status and will compete in the Metro Division of the North East Coast Volleyball Association (NECVA) beginning in January 2011.With the addition of men's volleyball, Kean now sponsors six men's sports (baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball) and seven women's sports (basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball).

"Men's volleyball has become increasingly popular in high schools and clubs in the Northeast in recent years," notes athletic director Glenn Hedden. "We believe there is sufficient interest from prospective student athletes to support the sport here at Kean. Because men's volleyball is considered a spring sport, we believe this would be a good fit and would complement our current athletic offerings and facilities."

Current Kean's women's volleyball coach Don Perkins will also coach the men's team.

Kean will become the fourth Division III institution in New Jersey to sponsor men's volleyball, joining New Jersey City University, Ramapo College and Stevens Institute of Technology. More than half of the Division III institutions sponsoring the sport (27) are located in the New York Metropolitan area.

The move comes as momentum continues to build toward establishing an NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship. More than 53 institutions in the division now sponsor the sport, and the NCAA Division III Championships Committee recently reviewed a proposed timeline for action leading to an inaugural NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship. The legislative proposal is to be considered at the 2011 NCAA Convention in January. If approved, the championship would be conducted in 2012.