The Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) will welcome Alvernia University to league membership beginning in the 2017 season. Alvernia, located in Reading, Pennsylvania, becomes the eighth member of the CVC.

"We are thrilled to add Alvernia University to the CVC, bringing our membership next year to eight members," said CVC Commissioner Graeme Millar. "Alvernia will fit well with the current CVC membership on many fronts including geography and mission, and will undoubtedly add to the level of play in the CVC in the future. The CVC will continue to promote and grow men's volleyball by finding a fit for NCAA Division III members that sponsor the sport and need a conference."

Alvernia was founded in 1958 and has a listed enrollment of 2,900 students. The school announced the addition of a men's volleyball program in the fall of 2015, bringing the school's total number of sports offered to 24. Deb Schlosser was named head coach of the new Alvernia program in January.

"The challenge of beginning in January has made our recruiting successes all the more satisfying," said Schlosser. "I feel lucky to have had the support of several peer coaches, as well as a wonderful response from friends within the greater volleyball community who have helped spread the word and promote the program. It's been an honor to have been entrusted with such a meaningful step for the University. And I am very happy for the guys who will make history for the school as the first members of the team."

Schlosser has a familiarity with the CVC after previously spending time as an assistant coach with the Kean University men's team.

"I have had the privilege of knowing several of the coaches from the CVC through USA Volleyball and through club ball. They have led their teams to considerable success and we wanted to join because we felt that our athletes and coaches would benefit from our exposure to them. In addition to being a strong conference that will challenge us, there are role models for program building within the CVC that can inspire and help guide us."

There she helped the team capture a conference tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championships. Schlosser also coaches at Moravian College and Club Lehigh Volleyball and has also served as head coach at Emmamus High School.

The CVC is an NCAA Division III men's volleyball only conference, founded in 2011, and also includes Cairn University, Eastern Mennonite University, Juniata College, Marymount University (Va.), Rutgers University-Newark, Stevenson University, and Thiel College as league members.