The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights in collegiate athletics has transformed the landscape for student-athletes across all divisions. While much attention has been given to high-profile Division I athletes, NIL opportunities have also begun to influence Division III sports, including men’s volleyball. This article explores the impact of NIL on Division III men’s volleyball athletes, highlighting real examples and examining the broader implications.
In July 2021, the NCAA adopted an interim policy allowing student-athletes to profit from their NIL across all divisions, including Division III. This shift marked a significant departure from previous regulations that strictly prohibited such activities. For Division III athletes, who typically do not receive athletic scholarships, NIL opportunities present a new avenue to monetize their personal brands and skills.
The expansion of NIL rights has sparked significant debate across all levels of collegiate sports. While much attention focuses on Division I revenue-generating programs, Division III men’s volleyball programs face a fundamentally different reality that raises important questions about the future of amateur athletics. Division III institutions, which represent the NCAA’s largest competitive division with nearly 450 member schools, operate under a distinct educational model. These programs offer no athletic scholarships and emphasize the student-athlete experience as part of a comprehensive educational journey.
The NCAA’s Division III philosophy statement explicitly values “the development of student-athletes who dedicate themselves to academic success, athletics experience, and involvement in campus life.” This model has traditionally prioritized participation, education, and personal development over professionalization and commercialization of student athletics.
For most Division III men’s volleyball players, NIL opportunities remain largely theoretical. Unlike high-profile Division I football and basketball programs, D3 volleyball generates minimal external commercial interest, limited media coverage, and attracts smaller audiences. This creates a significant imbalance in who can realistically benefit from NIL rights.
The opposition to NIL within Division III men’s volleyball centers on several key concerns. NIL opportunities are inherently unequal. Athletes at larger institutions in metropolitan areas naturally have access to more commercial opportunities than those at smaller schools in rural locations. This geographic and institutional disparity threatens to undermine the relative competitive balance that has characterized Division III athletics.
Only a small percentage of collegiate athletes—predominantly those in Division I revenue sports—have meaningful earning potential through NIL. The vast majority of student-athletes, including virtually all Division III men’s volleyball players, have minimal commercial value in the marketplace. This raises concerns that NIL policies disproportionately benefit already-advantaged athletes while creating unrealistic expectations for others.
Division III institutions emphasize that athletics serves their broader educational mission. Many programs worry that introducing commercial incentives could shift student focus away from academic and personal development toward financial opportunities, potentially compromising the student-first approach that defines Division III athletics.
Most Division III athletic departments operate with limited staff and resources. Implementing NIL compliance monitoring, education programs, and regulatory oversight creates additional administrative burdens that many programs are not equipped to handle.
The opposition to NIL expansion in Division III men’s volleyball reflects a broader concern about preserving the amateur model of collegiate sports. Proponents of this view argue that the value of athletic participation at this level comes from personal growth, leadership development, teamwork, time management, and the pursuit of excellence—not from monetization opportunities.
According to NCAA participation data, less than 2% of NCAA student-athletes across all divisions go on to play professionally. For Division III men’s volleyball specifically, professional opportunities are even more limited. Given this reality, many programs emphasize preparing student-athletes for success beyond sports rather than treating athletics as a path to financial gain.
While Division III men’s volleyball programs generally oppose the wholesale adoption of NIL policies designed for Division I revenue sports, many acknowledge the need for reasonable accommodation of student economic rights. The challenge lies in creating policies that respect student-athletes’ rights to benefit from their own name, image, and likeness; maintain the educational focus of Division III athletics; prevent the commercialization of amateur sports; and avoid creating systems that primarily benefit a small percentage of athletes.
Division III men’s volleyball athletes have started to explore NIL deals, although the scale and nature of these opportunities differ from their Division I counterparts. Given the smaller media coverage and fan base, Division III athletes often leverage local partnerships, personal training services, and social media platforms to capitalize on their NIL.
Case Study (PME)
Christian Herr, widely recognized by his moniker PME Volleyball, exemplifies the burgeoning influence of social media among Division III men’s volleyball athletes. As a setter for Lancaster Bible College, Herr has seamlessly blended his athletic prowess with a robust digital presence, offering a compelling case study on the impact of NIL opportunities in this sphere.
Herr’s contributions to Lancaster Bible College’s men’s volleyball team are noteworthy. As a freshman, Herr started 30 matches, amassing 964 assists—a single-season record for the college. His performance earned him the CSAC Men’s Volleyball Tournament MVP and a spot on the CSAC All-Conference 1st Team. Continuing his stellar play as a sophomore, Herr led the United East Conference in total assists (835) and assists per set (8.79). His efforts were pivotal in securing another conference title and an NCAA National Tournament appearance for the Chargers. It’s worth noting that Herr did not attend LBC or play in his junior year in 2025 to focus 100% on his PME endeavors.
Beyond the court, Herr has cultivated a substantial following under the alias PME Volleyball. His Instagram account, @pmevolleyball, boasts 910,000 followers. Herr utilizes this platform to share a mix of volleyball-related content, including comedic sketches, relatable point-of-view videos, vlogs, and practice tutorials. Herr’s engaging content has garnered over 286,000 subscribers and 217 million views on YouTube, reflecting his widespread appeal within the volleyball community.
The NCAA’s 2021 policy change permitting athletes to profit from their NIL has enabled Herr to monetize his online presence effectively. Herr has launched PME-branded merchandise, capitalizing on his digital fame to generate revenue. His expansive reach has attracted partnerships with volleyball brands and sponsors, enhancing his visibility and income potential.
While Herr’s success is inspiring, it underscores several challenges inherent to Division III athletes navigating the NIL landscape. Time management is a significant challenge, as balancing academic responsibilities, athletic commitments, and content creation requires meticulous scheduling and discipline. Market saturation is another concern, as the increasing number of athletes entering the digital content space intensifies competition for audience attention and sponsorship deals. Institutional support presents another obstacle, as the limited number of Division III institutions with established NIL policies necessitates that athletes independently seek guidance on compliance and best practices.
Christian Herr’s journey illustrates the potential for Division III men’s volleyball athletes to harness NIL opportunities through strategic use of social media. His ability to integrate athletic talent with engaging content creation serves as a model for peers aiming to expand their influence and capitalize on their personal brands in the evolving collegiate athletics landscape.
Institutions are adapting to the evolving NIL environment. Schools are crafting NIL guidelines to assist athletes in navigating opportunities while ensuring compliance with NCAA regulations. Workshops and resources are being developed to educate athletes on branding, financial literacy, and contract negotiations.
As NIL policies continue to evolve, D3 men’s volleyball programs face the challenge of balancing student-athlete rights with the preservation of amateur athletics’ core values. The concern remains that policies primarily designed for the small percentage of high-profile athletes who can meaningfully profit from their name, image, and likeness may undermine the educational and developmental focus that has long defined Division III sports.
These programs maintain that the true value of collegiate athletics—particularly at the Division III level—lies not in commercial opportunities but in the lifelong skills, relationships, and personal growth that participation fosters. The question is whether this educational model can coexist with the increasingly commercialized approach to collegiate athletics represented by expanding NIL rights.
The NIL era presents both opportunities and challenges for Division III men’s volleyball athletes. As the landscape evolves, athletes who proactively build their personal brands and engage with their communities may find new avenues for growth and recognition. Continued support from institutions and governing bodies will be crucial in maximizing the positive impact of NIL on these student-athletes.
While NIL opportunities in Division III men’s volleyball are emerging, the extent of their impact varies. Athletes who strategically leverage their skills and platforms can benefit, but widespread success will depend on broader acceptance and support within the Division III ecosystem.
What do you think? All comments welcome…
Christian shares his journey here…