Rochester Christian University Athletics is excited to announce that it will be starting a men’s volleyball program, with the team beginning official competition in the 2024-25 season. The Warriors will compete alongside 10 other WHAC teams, including affiliate members Bethel, Goshen, Mount Vernon Nazarene, and St. Mary-Woods.

The program will be led by current women’s volleyball head coach Juliana Nash (Gutknecht), who’s finishing up her first season at the helm. Nash had this to say about the program’s creation:

“I’m very excited for this new program to start here at Rochester and to continue to help grow the men’s game here in Michigan. Men’s volleyball will be a great addition, and I can’t wait to work with more future Warriors on both the men’s and women’s sides.”

“I have many goals for this program, but my main goal is to establish a culture from the start. This will all begin with recruiting and getting the right student-athletes here to be a part of starting a program, something not many people get the opportunity to do.”

“We are excited for our athletic department to take this next step in its growth,” said Director of Athletics Clayton Bissett. “We have seen the progression of our women’s volleyball program under Coach Nash’s direction this year and are anticipating the same growth with our new men’s program under her leadership.”

Last season, Indiana Tech won the WHAC Men’s Championship, and the conference had two NAIA All-Americans.