1/5/2026
Barons to launch 21st varsity sport in 2027, joining expanding Presidents’ Athletic Conference alongside Washington & Jefferson and Saint Francis
Steubenville, Ohio – In a move that reflects the explosive growth of men’s volleyball at the Division III level, Franciscan University announced it will elevate its men’s volleyball program from club to NCAA varsity status, beginning competition in January 2027. The decision marks the first new varsity sport added at Franciscan since 2018 and positions the Barons to capitalize on a decade of club program development.
The announcement is part of a broader expansion story within the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, where Franciscan will join Washington & Jefferson College and Saint Francis University as new men’s volleyball programs for the 2027 season. Combined with the PAC’s inaugural 2025 men’s volleyball season that featured seven teams, the conference will boast 10 programs by 2027, establishing itself as a legitimate regional power in Division III men’s volleyball.
A Natural Progression
For Franciscan Director of Athletics Danny Andersen ’97, the decision to sponsor men’s volleyball at the varsity level represents the logical next step in a carefully cultivated journey that began in 2015 when the club program launched.
“I am thrilled to add men’s volleyball to Franciscan’s varsity ranks under Coach Jen Hickey, who has done an outstanding job leading the women’s program,” Andersen said. “Our men’s club program has established a winning tradition and positive culture since its inception, and it is a natural step for us to sponsor it at the NCAA level. We believe offering it at the varsity level will enhance the student experience and multiply opportunities for encounter, conversion, and community… our Franciscan core values.”
That emphasis on mission-driven athletics reflects Franciscan’s distinctive approach to Division III competition. The university, located in Steubenville along the Ohio River, has built its athletic department around the principles of faith formation, academic excellence, and competitive achievement. Adding men’s volleyball allows the institution to extend those values to another group of student-athletes while responding to genuine demand.
Hickey Takes on Dual Role
In a testament to her leadership and program-building expertise, Jen Hickey ’96 has been promoted to head both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs. The Franciscan alumna has established a successful women’s program and will now oversee the launch of the men’s team while continuing to guide the women’s squad.
“I am thrilled and honored to coach the inaugural men’s volleyball team at Franciscan University,” Hickey said. “Men’s volleyball has been one of the fastest-growing sports in recent years. Taking our current men’s club team into the NCAA and PAC in the spring of 2027 seems like a logical and great next step and provides the opportunity for more student-athletes to enjoy this exciting sport.”
Hickey faces the considerable challenge of building a competitive NCAA program from the ground up, but she’ll have a year of focused recruiting and roster development before the team begins conference play. The 2026 academic year will be critical for establishing the foundation, identifying talent, and potentially competing at the club level while constructing the final NCAA roster.
The dual coaching arrangement reflects a growing trend in Division III athletics, particularly for newer programs where institutional knowledge and culture-building take precedence over specialization. Hickey’s familiarity with Franciscan’s mission and her proven ability to develop student-athletes in the women’s program make her an ideal choice to establish the men’s team.
Building on Club Success
Franciscan’s decision didn’t come from nowhere. The club program has spent nearly a decade establishing credibility and demonstrating that genuine interest exists among the student body. As members of the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association (EVCA), the Barons have competed against quality competition and achieved notable results.
Most impressively, the 2023 season saw the club team earn wins against Grove City, Bethany, and Geneva – all of which have since transitioned to NCAA Division III status. Those victories weren’t flukes or early-season matchups against unprepared opponents. They demonstrated that Franciscan’s club players could compete with programs that were either already at the NCAA level or preparing to make that jump.
The plan calls for the club team to ramp up its play throughout 2026, continuing ECVA competition while preparing for the transition to NCAA Division III. This approach allows returning club players to maintain their competitive edge, provides recruiting visibility, and creates continuity between the club and varsity eras.
The PAC Expansion Story
Franciscan’s addition is part of a remarkable expansion within the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The PAC launched men’s volleyball as a championship sport in 2024-25 with seven programs: Bethany, Chatham, Geneva, Grove City, Saint Vincent, Thiel, and Hiram (as an associate member). Thiel captured the inaugural PAC Championship, establishing early bragging rights in the new league.
By 2027, the conference will have grown to 10 programs with the additions of Franciscan, Washington & Jefferson, and Saint Francis. Each brings a unique story to the table:
Washington & Jefferson announced men’s volleyball in September 2024 as part of a two-sport expansion that also included women’s wrestling. The Presidents will be building their program from scratch, launching their first collegiate season in 2027 after a year of recruiting and roster construction. For W&J, which last added a varsity sport (women’s lacrosse) in 2008, the volleyball program represents a significant commitment to expanding athletic opportunities within its 28-sport department.
Saint Francis University brings perhaps the most intriguing storyline – a Division I program transitioning down to Division III. The Red Flash announced in March 2025 that they would reclassify their entire athletic department from Division I to Division III, joining the PAC for the 2026-27 academic year. Saint Francis has an established men’s volleyball program that competed at the Division I level in the Northeast Conference, bringing experienced players and coaching infrastructure to the Division III ranks. Their addition instantly elevates the competitive level of the PAC.
Regional Growth and National Trends
The expansion of men’s volleyball in the PAC mirrors national trends. According to National Federation of State High School Associations data, boys’ high school volleyball had 85,255 participants in 2023-24, an increase of 8,000 from the previous year. That grassroots growth creates both demand from prospective student-athletes and a deepening talent pool for college programs to recruit from.
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference region – particularly Ohio and western Pennsylvania – has seen significant growth in boys’ high school volleyball. Cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Pittsburgh have developed strong club and high school programs, creating natural recruiting pipelines for Division III programs in the area.
Franciscan specifically cited this regional growth in their announcement, noting that the expanding participation rates make this an ideal time to launch a varsity program. The Barons can recruit locally while also targeting players from volleyball hotbeds in nearby states who might be seeking the combination of competitive volleyball and Franciscan’s distinctive mission-driven education.
What Success Looks Like
For Franciscan’s inaugural season in 2027, success won’t necessarily be measured in wins and losses. The program will be competing against established teams that have had years to develop their rosters, systems, and competitive culture. Thiel, Grove City, and Geneva have been competing at the NCAA level since the PAC’s inaugural 2025 season. Saint Vincent and Bethany bring their own histories of competitive volleyball. And Saint Francis will arrive with Division I experience.
Instead, the first season will be about establishing a foundation:
- Culture building: Creating the habits, expectations, and team chemistry that will define the program for years to come
- Competitive moments: Showing they belong on the court with established programs, even if the overall record doesn’t reflect success
- Recruiting momentum: Using the inaugural season to generate excitement and attract quality recruits for future classes
- Mission integration: Demonstrating how volleyball can be a vehicle for Franciscan’s core values of encounter, conversion, and community
If Hickey and her staff can accomplish those goals while remaining competitive in matches, the inaugural season will be a success regardless of the final record.
Looking Ahead
The 2026-27 academic year promises to be transformative for Division III men’s volleyball in the mid-Atlantic region. With 10 programs competing in the PAC, the conference will offer a robust schedule, legitimate championship competition, and an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship tournament.
For Franciscan, the journey begins now. Hickey will spend the next year recruiting, developing systems, and building the infrastructure necessary to support a competitive NCAA program. Prospective student-athletes interested in being part of the inaugural team can contact Coach Hickey at jhickey@franciscan.edu or fill out the recruiting questionnaire on the Franciscan athletics website.
The club-to-varsity pipeline has proven successful for numerous Division III programs. When executed thoughtfully with proper support and leadership, it allows schools to test viability, build interest, and develop a foundation before making the full NCAA commitment. Franciscan’s decade of club competition positions them well for this transition.
The Bigger Picture
Franciscan’s announcement is another data point in the remarkable growth story of Division III men’s volleyball. The sport reached the 50-program threshold needed for an NCAA championship in 2010, leading to the first Division III championship in 2012. Today, 125 programs compete at the Division III level, and new programs continue to launch each year.
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s expansion from zero programs in 2024 to 10 programs by 2027 exemplifies the rapid growth occurring at the conference level. Similar expansion is happening across the country as conferences recognize that men’s volleyball provides opportunities to attract student-athletes, balance gender equity requirements, and meet student demand.
For Franciscan University, adding men’s volleyball as their 21st varsity sport demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive athletic excellence within the Division III model. The Barons join a growing number of faith-based institutions that see volleyball as an ideal fit – a sport that emphasizes teamwork, communication, and collective achievement while providing competitive opportunities for student-athletes who might not otherwise have access to college athletics.
As the Barons prepare to take the court in January 2027, they’ll be writing the first chapter of what the university hopes will be a long and successful volleyball story. With Jen Hickey’s leadership, the foundation of a successful club program, and a conference that’s committed to the sport’s growth, Franciscan men’s volleyball has the ingredients necessary for sustained success.
The journey from club to championship starts now.
For more information on Franciscan men’s volleyball or to express recruiting interest, visit franciscanathletics.com or follow the program on Instagram.