Lyndon St (VT) Adds Two Varsity Sports: Volleyball And Lax

[Sonny]

LYNDON CENTER VT - Lyndon State College plans to add two varsity sports as part of efforts to join the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).

In a prepared statement, LSC athletic director Chris Ummer said the school expects to add women's volleyball and men's lacrosse beginning next year.

The sports would be rolled out over the next two years - volleyball would begin competition in September 2006, while lacrosse would not compete until spring 2008, Ummer said.

They are the first varsity sports to be added at LSC in at least 20 years, Ummer said.

Ummer said the sports were added to make the school more attractive to the NCAA and its two local conferences, the NAC (North Atlantic Conference) and GNAC (Great Northeast Atlantic Conference).

LSC is expected to apply for membership in either the NAC or GNAC pending successful NCAA enrollment. LSC currently competes against five schools from each conference.

LSC begins its provisional membership in the NCAA on Sept. 1, 2006. The school has three years to fully comply with NCAA guidelines, and would be granted full NCAA membership in 2010.

In addition to bolstering the school's NCAA credentials, Ummer said the school added volleyball and lacrosse in response to student demand.

In recent years, many prospective students have inquired whether the school offered either sport at the varsity level, Ummer said.

"This is an exciting time for Lyndon State College athletics," Ummer said in a prepared statement. "Not only are we headed in a new direction in regards to our national affiliation, but we are also growing with the addition of these new sports. These changes not only strengthen LSC athletics but allow us to offer students more opportunities to enjoy sports, as spectators if not as players. It does a lot for school spirit."

The school will begin searching for a volleyball coach very soon and recruiting for players is already under way, Ummer said.

There are also plans in the works to offer Alpine and Nordic skiing as club sports. If the club teams are successful, the college will consider offering them as varsity sports by 2008/09.