Bridgewater, NJ - In a continued effort to grow and enhance men's volleyball, the NEC will expand its membership for the 2026 season.
NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris announced today that Manhattan and Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) have accepted invitations from the NEC Council of Presidents to join the conference as associate members. Both institutions are launching men's volleyball programs in 2026, marking an exciting new chapter for each school.
The Jaspers and Hawks will be immediately eligible to compete in the 2026 NEC Men's Volleyball Championship, giving them the opportunity to secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
"The NEC is pleased to welcome Manhattan and UMES to our men's volleyball community," said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. "We look forward to partnering with both institutions as we continue to support the growth of men's volleyball both within the NEC and at the collegiate level. We're proud to provide additional participation opportunities at the highest competitive level."
The additions of Manhattan and UMES bring the number of NEC men's volleyball programs to seven for the 2026 season. They will compete alongside NEC core members FDU, LIU and Saint Francis, as well as fellow affiliates Daemen and D'Youville.
Chris Schortgen was announced as the first head coach in the history of the Manhattan men's volleyball program on October 10, 2024. He has assembled a 16-player roster, including 13 freshmen, for the Jaspers' inaugural campaign.
"We are excited to join the NEC as one of three new D1 programs in the USA," said Schortgen. "Launching this program at Manhattan University is great for the boys' volleyball community and the growth of our sport on the national stage. We'll be working hard to represent the region and create a program that NYC deserves."
Manhattan Director of Athletics Irma Garcia pointed to the sport's momentum and the benefits it brings to the Manhattan community.
"We're very proud to showcase one of the fastest-growing sports in the world," said Garcia. "The sport has grown exponentially since we announced the addition of men's volleyball in Riverdale. I believe our region, our community and our institution will benefit from top-tier competition by our student-athletes within the NEC sphere and throughout the nation. We at Manhattan are very excited to join the NEC and have the opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at a high level. I want to thank NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris for this invitation. We look forward to contributing to the everlasting growth of men's volleyball in our region and all around the world!"
Dr. Anitra Brockman was selected to lead the UMES program in June, 2024. Her initial roster features 18 student-athletes, 12 of whom are freshmen.
"Entering the NEC in men's volleyball positions our program on a larger platform and reinforces our commitment to providing top-tier opportunities for our student-athletes," said Brockman. "This milestone reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for our student-athletes and showcasing their excellence on a national stage. We are excited for what this means for our institution, our community and the future of the sport."
UMES Vice President of Athletics Tara Owens also shared her excitement for the program.
"We successfully added men's volleyball at my previous institution and went on to have great success as Central State won a conference championship," said Owens. "The sport has a great amount of popularity and is a growing sport. I think our community will be blown away by the athleticism of this sport and the talent on the court. It is especially exciting to have the opportunity to compete in the NEC. I would like to thank NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris for the invitation to play men's volleyball in the NEC. We look forward to the growth of the sport on the college level and will encourage other institutions to explore the possibility of adding men's volleyball."
UMES also participates in the NEC as an associate member in baseball, as well as men's and women's golf.
Two-time defending champion Daemen earned the NEC's first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship last season, falling at home to Penn State in the first round.
The NEC will proudly showcase associate members across 15 sports for the 2025-26 season. These sports include baseball (Coppin State, Delaware State, UMES and Norfolk State), women's bowling (Duquesne, Monmouth and Niagara), field hockey (Fairfield, Merrimack, Quinnipiac (joining in 2026), Rider and Sacred Heart), football (Duquesne and Robert Morris), men's golf (Binghamton, Howard, UMES and North Carolina Central), women's golf (Delaware State, Howard, UMES and North Carolina Central), men's lacrosse (Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris and VMI), women's lacrosse (Delaware State and Howard), men's soccer (Howard), women's soccer (Delaware State and Howard), men's swimming and diving (Howard), women's swimming and diving (Howard), men's and women's tennis (Binghamton) and men's volleyball (Daemen, D'Youville, Manhattan and UMES).
