Reflections Magazine Issue #69 - Spring 2009 | Page 19

Athletics Feature

By Ashley Brainerd ’10 – Student Writer

Inaugural Men’s Club
Volleyball Team Finishes 27-8

A

s the assistant coach in the women’s
volleyball program, Mike Watkins first introduced the idea of a men’s volleyball team at
Siena Heights University. When the university
approved men’s volleyball as a club sport last
year, Watkins now has a chance to see his idea
come to fruition as the head coach of the firstyear program.
Since no other school in the Wolverine-Hoosier
Athletic Conference has a men’s team, Siena has
filled its schedule with NCAA Division I club
teams such as Ohio State, Michigan State and
the University of Michigan. The Saints have
held their own so far this season, starting off the
year with a 3-2 record, including a victory over
Michigan State Jan. 23 in their home debut.
Before a curious home crowd in the SHU
Fieldhouse, the Saints defeated MSU the first
two games 25-20 and 25-11. The Spartans won
the third game before Siena came out swinging
in the fourth game to seal the match with a 25-20
victory. With performances like that, Watkins
believes Siena will serve as an example for other
schools in the area.

“I think that some of the colleges in the WHAC
are watching to see how this works and are interested in starting programs in the near future,”
he said.
Freshman outside hitter Matt Mitterholzer
(Berea, Ohio) is excited to show the Siena community, as well as the state of Michigan, what
men’s volleyball is all about.
“It’s very different (from women’s),” he said.
Freshman defensive specialist/setter Tim
O’Brien (Beavercreek, Ohio) said he thinks this
initial season is the most important if they hope
to build a successful program. Watkins concurs.
“The goals for this year are simply to improve
and build the foundation for the future,” Watkins
says. “We (want) to prove that (having a men’s
team) can be done.”

With only four of his 10 players hailing from
Michigan, Watkins has concentrated his recruiting efforts in Ohio, which has a deeper men’s
volleyball talent pool. He also attracted a player
from Hawaii – 6-foot-1 sophomore John Kahoohanohano – who is from Maui. The Saints
have seven freshmen and only one senior on
the roster.
Watkins said once his program becomes an
intercollegiate sport – hopefully as early as next
year – his expectations are ambitious.
“My (goal is) to compete for national championships in the NAIA,” Watkins said.
The Saints finished the season 27-8 overall,
including a perfect 5-0 at hom