CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (MCVL.org) – The Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) will officially welcome Wabash College to the fold for the 2020-21 volleyball campaign, increasing the conference’s membership to seven programs.  

Wabash will join Adrian College, Fontbonne University, Mount Saint Joseph’s University, The University of Mount Union, Olivet College and Trine University.

"It’s always exciting to talk about positive membership news," MCVL Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen said. "We have a new school with us for 2020 (Mount Union) and now we have Wabash for 2021. The ‘magic number’ for NCAA automatic qualification is seven schools, which makes this announcement incredibly significant for the MCVL.”

"The Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League is a welcome home for our new volleyball program, offering quality competition in close proximity to campus," Wabash Director of Athletics and Campus Wellness Matt Tanney said. "We regularly compete against MCVL institutions in other sports, so familiarity with the respective athletics programs is an added bonus of our affiliate membership. We look forward to joining the MCVL in 2020-21 for our inaugural season with a group of talented Wabash scholar-athletes."

Kevin Russell has been tabbed head coach for the Little Giants, as of August 12, and brings a plethora of playing and coaching experience to Wabash’s men’s program. Russell began his coaching career at the University of Rhode Island in 1984 and most recently served as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University. In the Division III men’s volleyball ranks, he led Wentworth Institute of Technology to a national ranking of 13th during his time as head coach.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to recruit and lead the Wabash men's volleyball program at a time when boys' volleyball in Indiana and across the country is experiencing explosive growth," Russell said. "We know there are many high-performing, competitive student-athletes that are looking for the kind of opportunity that we offer at Wabash.”

Russell graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He earned a master's degree from Salem State University in 2009 and secured CAP Level III certification from USA Volleyball in Colorado Springs in 2015.