GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cornerstone University and Director of Athletics Aaron Sagraves are excited to announce the approval of their 19^th varsity sport, as Men's Volleyball will be added in the 2020-21 academic year. The addition of the next sport will also bring some exciting renovations to the Hansen Athletic Center's Auxiliary Gym and Mol Arena.
 
"We're excited to launch men's volleyball and provide a new opportunity for more student athletes to be a part of the Cornerstone community," stated Director of Athletics Aaron Sagraves. "With the growth of the sport, especially in the West Michigan area and within the NAIA, we feel we will be able to offer a great experience for young men to come to CU to grow in their faith, pursue their passion in academics and excel on the court."
 
The addition of men's volleyball continues Cornerstone's growth trajectory. In the last two years, new academic programs and a new science building have highlighted a number of new aspects to the 78-year-old university. 

The addition of a men's volleyball program is another example of Cornerstone's efforts to create the best atmosphere for student athletes, both on-campus and in the Grand Rapids community. 
 
"As we identify the optimal paths for growth, our desire is to include directions that are innovative," said Bob Sack, Vice President for University Advancement. "A men's volleyball program is a creative and emerging way for Cornerstone to continue to offer new opportunities for students. Athletics continues to be a transformative experience for over a third of our students and we are delighted to offer a new sport."
 
The addition of a men's volleyball program is the first new sport added since Cornerstone brought in a cheerleading squad in the 2015-16 season. CU has also added men's and women's bowling program's in the last five years. 
 
Next steps for the Cornerstone athletics department will be the search for a new head coach to run the men's volleyball program and Sagraves will be spearheading the coaching search immediately. CU is looking to fill out a varsity men's volleyball roster with roughly 12-15 athletes going into the 2020-21 season. 
 
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) boys' volleyball has been growing about 12% annually and it is not expected to slow as over 61,000 athletes competed in 2017-18. Cornerstone will join Aquinas, Goshen, Indiana Tech, Lawrence Tech, Lourdes, and Siena Heights as a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) in men's volleyball. The season traditionally opens in January and runs through April. 
 
With the addition of a men's volleyball program, Cornerstone is also excited to announce some changes to the Hansen Athletic Center that will be taking place this spring to better provide for our student athletes. University leadership has approved a renovation of both Mol Arena and the Blue Gym inside the Hansen to better support and provide practice and game space for all of the Cornerstone athletic programs. 
 
Mol Arena will be getting a new floor to create a better competition and practice space for both the men's and women's basketball and men's and women's volleyball programs. The auxiliary gym will also see renovations that will include: another hard-wood floor, two pad and pour floors, four new basketball hoops, new curtain vinyl, a movable pole vault pit, three more volleyball court practice spaces, and general repainting of the gym walls. The aux gym remodel will provide a much more practical and supportive practice space for all of the Cornerstone athletics programs. 
 
"The approval from University leadership to improve the Hansen Athletic Center gym space is something that will not only help our student athletes and coaches, but all of the Cornerstone community. I am excited about the opportunities these improved spaces will bring to our campus as well as the surrounding area as we strive to provide a great and hospitable experience for those who enter the space." – Director of Athletics, Aaron Sagraves. 

Contact: Jesse Campbell | nathan-jesse.campbell@cornerstone.edu | 616-222-1505
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