MCC Sets to Serve New Volleyball Program in Fall 2025

Sept. 30, 2024

Volleyball is coming to MCC in Fall 2025. The McLennan Community College Board of Trustees approved the addition of the program to the College’s Athletic Department at its September meeting.

“When I was hired for this position 20 years ago, I envisioned expanding our sports offering, and what a great opportunity we now have with the approval of women’s volleyball,” MCC Athletic Director Shawn Trochim said. “The excitement this sport will bring to our campus in early fall will help generate student body involvement and a buzz in our community fan base. Athletic programs prove to be valuable and inherent parts of the total educational experience for students-athletes and our student body, and I’m excited to bring another team to our campus.”

This marks the first expansion of the College’s athletic programs since softball was added in 1999-2000, bringing the total to seven teams competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). MCC also includes the Dance Team within the athletic department with the squad competing for national championships at the American Dance/Drill Team Schools (ADTS) American Collegiate Championships and National Dance Alliance College Nationals each spring.

The addition of a volleyball program seemed like the natural step for MCC due to the sport’s popularity. Twenty-seven school districts in the county offer the program beginning at the junior high level, and Waco is home to three club programs that includes teams for players 10 years of age and older.

Currently, 24 colleges in Texas and New Mexico offer the sport, eight from NJCAA Region 14 covering South East Texas and 15 in NJCAA Region 5, the region in which MCC competes. Seven of those schools are located within a 150-mile radius of McLennan County. With the addition of teams at MCC and Collin College in 2025, 10 out of the 11 schools in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference will be competing in volleyball.

Volleyball will also help the athletic department better reflect the demographics of the College’s overall student body. MCC’s student body is 68 percent female and 32 percent male, while the current ratio in athletics is 38 female and 62 male.

MCC Board of Trustee Jonathan Hill worked with Trochim on a feasibility study of adding volleyball as an undergraduate intern in Fall 2013, and is excited to see the development of the program.

"I’m incredibly proud of our decision to add women’s volleyball to the McLennan Athletics department. This program is not just a win for our student-athletes and the campus community; it’s a testament to the years of hard work and vision led by our outstanding athletic director, Shawn Trochim,” Hill said. “Volleyball players are historically high-achieving, high-character student leaders — that was true when we evaluated the program during my time as a student in 2013, and it’s still true today. I can’t wait for the Waco community to show out and support elite collegiate volleyball at The Highlands. While the process has certainly been arduous, I’m proud our Board unanimously chose to finish the job and bring this to fruition for our students and community."

Historically, MCC teams have excelled athletically and academically. Since 2005, MCC teams have claimed 18 conference championships, 12 regional championships and 24 national titles. Those teams have featured 120 All-Americans and 148 NJCAA All-Academic Team honorees.

MCC President Dr. Johnette McKown feels now was the right time to start the program.

“Volleyball’s time has come for McLennan Community College, and I am excited to add this opportunity for female athletes,” McKown said. “From my presidential colleagues, I have learned that volleyball student-athletes bring excitement on the court and excellence in the classroom. It is the right thing to do and supports our strategic priorities to engage students and to impact the community.”