New Men’s Volleyball Team to Compete in 2027
Franciscan University will expand its varsity athletic offerings with men’s volleyball beginning competition in the spring of 2027.
The new program—Franciscan’s 21st varsity sport—will be led by veteran coach Jennifer Hickey ’96, who has been promoted to oversee both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs. The announcement marks an exciting new chapter for Baron Athletics.
“We believe this is a natural and timely step in our quest to multiply opportunities for encounter, conversion, and community,” says Athletics Director Danny Andersen ’97. “Introducing NCAA men’s volleyball at Franciscan represents another powerful way to form disciples, develop leaders, and pursue excellence through athletics.”
The team will compete in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), which began sponsoring men’s volleyball in the 2024-25 academic year. The Barons will be one of three new volleyball programs joining the PAC in 2027, alongside Washington & Jefferson College and Saint Francis University.
Hickey’s leadership and student interest were key factors in the decision to add the sport.
“Jen has built a culture of excellence, faith, and character in the women’s program,” Andersen says. “Her leadership offers the strong foundation we want to replicate across all athletics. We anticipate a championship-caliber program that not only competes at a high level but embodies the best of Franciscan University—on and off the court.”
Hickey, who also played for Franciscan as a student-athlete, is already laying the groundwork.
“We are in the early stages of recruiting and have seen strong interest from student-athletes who are excited to play at the NCAA level while embracing the mission and culture of Franciscan,” she says. “We’re especially encouraged by the growth of boys’ volleyball in our region—cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati are producing talented players who could thrive here. We’re also recruiting nationally thanks in part to former men’s club standout Stephen Goedken ’25, who is helping us scout players in California.”
The men’s club volleyball team at Franciscan has been active since 2015, compiling wins over NCAA opponents like Grove City, Bethany, and Geneva. That club program will serve as the foundation for the new varsity team. This fall, current club players are beginning a year of formation that includes strength training, open gyms, and spiritual development.
“We’re building more than a team—we’re forming a culture,” Hickey says. “Our focus is on holistic development: intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth. We want to compete at a high level, but also build young men of character who will represent Franciscan with integrity and joy.”
Alumni and supporters are encouraged to follow the team’s journey through their Instagram. Prospective student-athletes can also express interest by filling out the men’s volleyball recruiting questionnaire online at franciscanathletics.com.
From Buzzer-Beaters to Brotherhood
Junior phenom Sawyer Butler became the first Baron hoopster ever to be named to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) First Team after leading the men’s basketball team to both the PAC and the Eastern College Athletic Conference postseason tournaments.
Sawyer had a remarkable season both on and off the court. He finished second in the PAC in scoring with a 19.2 points per game average, came just two points shy of becoming the all-time single season scoring leader in Franciscan University history, broke the program record for most free throws made in a season, and, most importantly, grew in relationship with God.
The 20-year-old guard from Beaver, Pennsylvania, says basketball has been the love of his life since early childhood, and he credits his parents for giving him the opportunity to excel as a player.
“I would be nowhere without my dad taking the hours out of his day to get me in the gym whenever I asked him, or without my mom getting countless amounts of rebounds for me no matter the time of day,” Sawyer says.
Sawyer, a business management major, says he hopes to use his Franciscan education to stay in the basketball realm in his future career, whether that be in coaching, front office work, or even continuing to play the sport overseas.
He says choosing Franciscan University turned out to be one of the best decisions he ever made.
“I love playing for Franciscan. I know that on any given night all my friends and all the student body will fill the stands and show support and be loud for the whole 40 minutes,” Sawyer says. “This school is special to me because I have learned many life lessons and tools I can use to my advantage to become a better man and person.”
Sawyer says one of the best moments of the past season was a retreat the entire team went on in Erie, Pennsylvania, after the team posted a last-second, one-point victory over Allegheny College.
“The focus of the retreat was to bring us all closer to God. It really helped me a lot personally and built us all up as a team,” Sawyer says. “Doing this retreat with the team really made me realize how much the Catholic faith allows the team and me to grow together, and just how important it is to trust God through hard times.”
Although Sawyer put together one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of the school and helped lead the squad to postseason tournaments, he is hungry for bigger and better things for the Barons next season.
“Playing in the tournament was great and being honored by the PAC is something I’m extremely grateful for, but I expect us to be playing for championships in the next two years,” Sawyer says. “We have a great group of guys who are putting in the work, and I can’t wait to see us carry this momentum forward this season.”
Student-Athlete SPOTLIGHT
Name: Claire Cardie
Hometown: Dublin, Pennsylvania
Year: Senior
Major: Clinical Psychology
Sport: Tennis
Honors: 2024-2025 First Team All-PAC #1 Singles and #1 Doubles; 2024- 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District; 2024 PAC All-Tournament Team; 2023-2024 Second Team All-PAC #3 Singles and #2 Doubles; 2022-2024 PAC Academic Honor Roll; 2022-2024 ITA Scholar Athlete.
Favorite Saint: St. Michael the Archangel
On Faith and Tennis: “My faith enables me to offer up every match as a prayer. If I am offering up my match, I choose joy, no matter the circumstance. I realize that if I am playing for God, who loves his children infinitely, my results do not define me. With this Christ-centered perspective, I’ve been able to play with more freedom and joy than prior to my time at Franciscan.”
What Competing at Franciscan Means: “Playing at Franciscan has gifted me with faithful and dedicated teammates. In our tight-knit community, every person is valued, no matter the role.”
High Fives
- Joseph James of men’s lacrosse led all of NCAA Division III in goals per game (4.73) to give the sophomore his second NCAA statistical championship.
- Aaron Heinlein of men’s tennis was named First Team AllPAC in singles and doubles while leading the Barons to a winning record and an appearance in the PAC Semifinal.
- 79 Barons from winter and spring teams were named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll for the spring semester by earning over a 3.60 GPA. That set a new program record for most in one semester.
- Theresa Lyle and Gianna Dinoto earned First Team All-PAC honors in women’s lacrosse this season. Franciscan has had two or more players earn this honor in five of the last six seasons.
- Kimberly McDaniels ’25 ended her softball career as the first player in program history to earn All-Conference accolades in three seasons. All three times she earned First Team honors, as well as being named PAC Player of the Year in 2022.
Join the Green & Gold Club
The new official booster of Franciscan University Athletics, the Green & Gold Club supports our student-athletes as they pursue excellence—on the field, in the classroom, and in their faith. Your support will help with equipment, training, uniforms, travel, and also empower our athletes to live out the mission of Franciscan University through athletic competition, academic achievement, evangelization, and spiritual growth. For more information, go to Franciscan Athletics website.
