LOUISVILLE, Ky. (SBTS) — Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will add a women’s volleyball team to its athletic program and begin competition this fall in the NCCAA Division II Mideast region. Volleyball will be the third sport offered at Boyce and the first for women.
“There has been a ton of interest from the ladies on campus, and even the men who wanted us to have a more fully developed athletic program, and the next obvious step was to add a women’s sport,” said Boyce athletic director Blake Rogers, who also coaches the men’s basketball team. “This is a unique way to support our ladies on campus and I am thrilled for the turnout, because I know that our students are going to jump all over this.”
The volleyball team will be coached by Alexis Ammon, a native of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, who was a four-year starter in volleyball at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management.
After her playing career, Ammon served as a graduate assistant for the University of Louisville volleyball team while completing a master’s degree in Sport Administration. Last year, Ammon was an assistant volleyball coach at the Christian Academy of Indiana, where she helped lead them to a state championship.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to coach the women’s volleyball team here at Boyce College,” Ammon said. “The sport is a great addition to the athletic department and will be a great benefit to student life. I look forward to meeting the girls and being part of this team. I really couldn’t think of a better place to be at to have this platform of coaching and for the athlete to have this opportunity to compete.”
Rogers and Ammon are currently developing a schedule for the team’s inaugural season, which will begin in early September. Even though the team will face challenges because of limited practice time, Rogers says he has high expectations for the first season.
“Obviously we are working against a tough timeframe, but if we can get a core group of girls from recruiting and current students to completely buy in then we can have a good team,” Rogers said. “Our top goals are always student-athlete development and discipleship. That is what is most important to nail down the first year, and then from that foundation we can improve in terms of competitiveness.”
Those interested in joining the volleyball team can fill out the recruiting form under the “Recruit Me” tab at boycebulldogs.com.