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Abbey Athletics Adds Men’s Volleyball To Roster For 2012-2013 Season

Coach Mary DeJute will become the second female coach in the nation to coach a men’s volleyball team.

The Belmont Abbey Athletics department has announced the addition of men’s volleyball to the College’s Varsity sports roster. Men’s volleyball will begin play during the 2012-13 season and will be guided by the women’s volleyball coach, Mary DeJute. The addition of men’s volleyball brings the total of Crusader sports to 22. In addition, it is believed that DeJute will be only one of two female coaches in the nation to lead a men’s volleyball program. DeJute has vast experience coaching men, leading her former club team, the Columbus (Ohio) Area Volleyball Experience, to a Bronze medal at the Junior National competition.

Under NCAA legislation, men’s volleyball encompasses all levels of NCAA divisions into one grouping. Therefore, the Crusaders will face a challenging lineup of competition ranging from all levels of NCAA institutions.

“I am excited to announce the addition of Men’s Volleyball to the slate of Crusader athletic offerings,” Belmont Abbey Athletics Director Quin Monahan said. “This addition speaks to the positive growth Belmont Abbey College and our athletics program have experienced over the past several years. This is a great day for the Abbey!”

Men’s volleyball, which competes from January to April, has been labeled as an “emerging sport” by Conference Carolinas, and the Abbey joins Erskine among the ranks of new men’s volleyball programs next school year. Barton, Coker, King, Lees-McRae, Limestone, Mount Olive and Pfeiffer have existing men’s volleyball programs. The conference will gain an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2014.

“I am thrilled and honored to lead the men’s program at Belmont Abbey College,” DeJute said. “Being part of building a program from the ground up is rare and I look forward to the challenge. The opportunity to play against top Division I and II schools is exciting and I intend to hit the recruiting trail immediately. Finding the right fit for the College and the style of play we want to utilize will be the foundation on which this program will be built. We will search nationwide for quality student-athletes with the mission fit in mind.”

“We are fortunate that coach DeJute has agreed to lead our Men’s program,” Monahan added. “I have great confidence she will do so with the same professionalism and positive leadership witnessed in the women’s program.  Mary is an excellent recruiter and coach and will be a great leader – for the men and women – both on and off the court.”

DeJute just wrapped up her third season mentoring the Abbey women’s program and is the winningest coach in school history. She has amassed a record of 42-45, the most wins in a three-year span in the program’s history, including back-to-back seasons of 18 wins, the most in a single season at the Abbey.