BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The Bryn Athyn College Men's Volleyball program will host the 2nd annual Lions Fall Classic on Saturday, September 21st, 2024. The single-day tournament will see eight NCAA Division III college men's volleyball programs convene at the Asplundh Field House.
Two pools of four teams have been confirmed for the event that utilizes the non-traditional segment date of competition. A single day of scrimmage play is allowed in NCAA Division III men's volleyball. Each match in pool play will be one set to 30 points. The top two teams in each bracket will move on to the gold division, while the bottom two teams will be placed in the silver division for playoffs.
"We are very excited to see the tournament grow to this level," said Bryn Athyn Head Coach Jason Barshinger. "This is an incredible opportunity for the players to experience the fun of those day-long tourneys they would play in during their high school and club seasons. We are very proud to have the gym space and resources to host an event like this."
The 2024 lineup of teams includes six of the nine programs from the United East Conference, one program from the Skyline Conference, and one NAIA program.
Bryn Athyn College (12-17, 1-5 in 2023-24), United East Conference, finished last season with quadruple the number of wins from the year prior. With a strong recruiting class ranging from PA, NJ, MA, and CA, they look to add to their young core and continue to develop as the team heads into the program's upcoming fourth season.
Cairn University (7-13, 5-1 in 2023-24), United East Conference, had an excellent run in conference play last year that continued through the playoffs. The Highlanders made it to the conference finals, finishing in second place to Lancaster Bible College.
Gallaudet University, United East Conference, will begin play as a new varsity program in the 2024-25 year. They look to make a statement in their first competition against conference and non-conference opponents.
Neumann University (14-9 in 2023-24), United East Conference, will play their first season as a member of the United East in 2024-25. The Knights tallied an impressive 9-0 record against United East opponents last season and look to make their presence known within the conference early on.
Penn State Schuylkill (0-9 in 2023-24) heads into their second season as a member of the NAIA in 2024-25. The program took on tough competition throughout their inaugural season and looks to build on that experience in the upcoming year.
Purchase College (17-14, 11-7 in 2023-24), Skyline Conference, will travel from New York to compete in the tournament. The Panthers had a strong campaign last year with the season as they made it to both the Skyline and ECAC playoffs.
Saint Elizabeth University (8-18, 3-3 in 2023-24), United East Conference, will travel from New Jersey with an experienced group of athletes who look to return to the conference playoffs in 2025. Saint Elizabeth finished in second place in the 2023 inaugural Lions Fall Classic.
University of Valley Forge (13-11, 3-3 in 2023-24) seeks to defend their 2023 Lions Fall Classic championship. On the heels of their best record in program history, the Patriots come into the tournament poised to fight for a repeat.
Doors open at 9:15 AM with the first matches slated to start at 10:00 AM. In the opening matches, Bryn Athyn College will take on Cairn University in Pool A while Neumann University will go up against Penn State Schuylkill.
Admission to the tournament is free for all guests.
The 2024 Lions Fall Classic apparel store can be accessed at the following link: https://www.bonfire.com/2024-lions-fall-classic/
Men's Volleyball to host Fall Classic this Saturday
Sep 17, 2024 · Men's Volleyball
BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The Bryn Athyn College Men's Volleyball program will host the 2nd annual Lions Fall Classic on Saturday, September 21st, 2024. The single-day tournament will see eight NCAA Division III college men's volleyball programs convene at the Asplundh Field House.