FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University intends to add women's volleyball as the institution's 19th Division I varsity sport beginning in the 2028-29 season, announced Vice President for University Athletics Tim Hall today. 

  

"Longwood is committed to providing student opportunities and attracting talented individuals to Farmville," said Hall. "Women's volleyball is thriving, and we are happy to be able to offer competition at the highest level of collegiate athletics to that community." 

  

When play begins in Fall 2028, Longwood will join nearly 350 Division I programs, supporting more than 6,000 talented student-athletes around the nation. The Lancers will compete in the Big South and give the league a full complement of volleyball programs.  

  

A leading member of the Big South Conference, Longwood has excelled both academically and in competition. The Lancers captured the basketball sweep, winning both the men's and women's conference championships in 2022, and two years later added a second men's title. The men's golf program claimed a Big South Championship in 2023.  Academically, Longwood enjoyed the highest Presidential Honor Roll rate in the Big South Conference, with nearly 86% of eligible student-athletes achieving a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.   

  

A national search for the program's first head coach will begin during the 2026-27 academic year. As part of the process to launch a new varsity sport, the University and Athletics Department will continue to provide updates on the exciting journey of Longwood women's volleyball.