Dec. 7, 2009

Story courtesy of Xavier Sports Information

NEW ORLEANS - Xavier University (La.) will reinstate its intercollegiate women's volleyball program for the fall 2010 season.

Xavier Athletics Director Dennis Cousin made the announcement on Nov. 30.

"Our goal is to make our women's volleyball program as competitive as our other teams," Cousin said. "Our first step is to hire a coach."

Xavier competed in women's volleyball in 2003 and 2004, but suspended the program in 2005 because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Xavier is a member of the NAIA and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Xavier's six other teams - men's and women's basketball, cross country and tennis - combined to win 19 GCAC championships and qualify for 14 NAIA national tournaments during the past five seasons.