Right Time

Edison Volleyball Program Offers 12 Full Tuition Scholarships!
By Rob Kiser, Sports Editor 

It is just a reward for coach Carrie Snider-Dearth and the Edison Community College volleyball program.

And something the school planned all along, although the Lady Chargers success may have made it happen sooner that expected.

After two straight Final Four appearances in NJCAA D-III, including a national runnerup finish in 2006, the Lady Chargers will be moving up to Division II next fall.

What that means is, like with the men’s and women’s basketball programs, there will be 12 tuition scholarships for volleyball, beginning next year.

 “This is phase three,” Edison athletic director Chip Hare said. “Phase one was to establish the program. Phase two was to have success in the program, which clearly we have done with two straight trips to the Final Four and the first All-American (Jessica Girod) for Edison in any sport.”

Now the Lady Chargers spikers will take another step forward.

 “The time was right to do this,” Hare said. “To steal a quote from Dr. Yowell (Edison President Dr. Kenneth Yowell), ‘It is important to lay a foundation for the future’.”

It is clearly a decision that will make recruiting easier.

“When you are recruiting athletes, they generally would like to get something in return,” Hare said. “Now they will be getting their tuition paid for.”

At the same time, it will be a step up in competition.

“There is no question about that,” Hare said. “Basically, we played a lot of these teams during the season. So, the schedule will not be that much different. But, it will be strong competition in the postseason.”

Owens Community College and Columbus State, two OCCAC league members with Edison, have made similar moves in the past.

“We are not the first school to do it,” Hare said. “I believe Owens has gone to nationals in Division II since making the move. Region 12 is one of the strongest regions in the country.

 “Because of that, two teams go to nationals. We feel like we represented the region very well in Division III and there have been some national champions from the region in Division II.”

In the postseason, there will be 18 teams in Division II, competing for two spots at nationals.

“It is very similar to basketball,” Hare said. “There are 18 schools, so it is divided into two districts, with each sending one team to nationals.”

After the two past seasons, it was the next step for Edison to take.

 “I am not sure anyone expected us to do what we have done for the last two years,” Hare said.

And now, the school is rewarding the Lady Chargers for that progress.