AVILA INTRODUCES MEN’S VOLLEYBALL AS 17TH VARSITY SPORT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avila Athletics announced today the introduction of Men’s Volleyball as the university’s 17th varsity sport, beginning play in the 2025-26 school year.
“Men’s volleyball is an emerging sport in the NAIA and across the country,” said Avila Athletics Director Shawn Summe. “There has been tremendous growth at the club and high school level, with a growing number of states sanctioning it as a championship-level sport. It is an exciting and fast-paced sport and one that we feel will draw interest on campus and off.”
Mekenna Clugston will serve as the program’s inaugural head coach. Clugston, a native of Murrieta, Calif., spent the previous year as an assistant coach for Avila women’s volleyball.
“I want to start by thanking Dr. Burkee and Shawn Summe for providing me with this opportunity,” Clugston said. “I cannot put into words how grateful I am to be the first head coach for this program. Men’s volleyball is growing every day across the nation and I am incredibly excited to see where this goes now that Avila men’s volleyball gets to be a part of the journey.”
“Mekenna is excited and moving quickly to get this off the ground and I look forward to watching her grow the sport in the Kansas City area,” noted Summe.
Clugston played collegiately at the University of Saint Katherine in San Marcos, Calif., and was a three-year member of the Firebirds women’s volleyball program. During her decorated career at Saint Katherine, Clugston was a two-time Champions of Character honoree and was a member of the California Pacific Conference champion team as a senior while playing an integral role for the Firebird program that made the NAIA National Tournament as a senior. In addition to her on-court achievements, Clugston coached three years of club volleyball for 951 Elite Volleyball Club while in college.
Clugston will be one of the youngest men’s volleyball coaches in the country and one of a small number of female head coaches for a men’s program.
Avila men’s volleyball will play its home matches at Mabee Fieldhouse, joining women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s basketball as well as cheer and dance as the eighth Avila sport to compete in the legendary 45-year-old on-campus facility.
The introduction of men’s volleyball marks the seventh new program to join Avila Athletics since 2021, joining men’s and women’s wrestling, bowling and tennis.
Keep informed on all men’s volleyball news for the upstart Eagles program at AvilaAthletics.com.
