By Will Herbert

Women’s volleyball season is right around the corner as the fall semester approaches. This season, our women’s volleyball team will be competing as a club team.  

According to Dr. Lynsey Jae Grace, the athletics director for Community College of Philadelphia, eligibility requirements remain the same for student-athlete participation. Students will spend one year of eligibility at the community college level by participating and must earn 24 credits with a 2.0 GPA or better during their first year to compete in their second year of eligibility. 

“The Department of Athletics remains fully committed to offering opportunities for prospective and current female student-athletes interested in women’s volleyball. During this period, we will continue to recruit actively throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and compete against NJCAA Region 19 members as a club program,” Dr. Grace said via email. 

Club sports typically differ from varsity sports with regard to funding, costs, and access. Dr. Grace stated that the budget for women’s volleyball remains the same. Student-athletes are not permitted to incur out-of pocket expenses, and activities must be in line with NJCAA eligibility requirements.

Complications with eligibility, onboarding, and our transient student population, with outgoing transfers and graduates from last season’s team, were the reasons given for the change back to club status after playing the 2025 season at the varsity level.

“Due to the fact that women’s volleyball begins in August and CCP students do not begin classes until September, eligibility barriers arise,” Dr. Grace said. She stated the college was unable to meet a July 1 deadline imposed by NJCAA, which placed the program at risk of sanctions and fines, and the decision was made to ensure female student-athletes still had access to an intercollegiate sport.

Dr. Grace stated that current student athletes have already been informed by Head Coach Nicole Vadino. 

Two workouts have been scheduled in the Athletics Center for the following days: 

• Tuesday, August 4th: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

• Thursday, August 6th: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. 

More information about the workouts can be found by visiting the CCP Pride Portal, where interested student-athletes can RSVP to the event to signify interest. Additional workouts are likely to be scheduled throughout August, with tryouts currently planned for early September. 

Students who are interested in playing women’s volleyball can reach out to Coach Vadino at nvadino@ccp.edu, or Assistant Athletic Director Eric Funaro at efunaro@ccp.edu. 

Women’s volleyball initially returned to CCP as a club sport in 2024 after a seven year absence. Last season, the Lions competed at varsity level with a 1-15 record in NJCAA play according the CCP Athletics website.

Details on the upcoming season schedule, as well as additional workouts and tryouts, will be shared when they are available. 

UPDATED: Tuesday, August 4th at 11:55 a.m.