Nov. 24, 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College Head Volleyball Coach Margot Royer announced on Friday, November 20 that the Friars will join the America East Conference beginning in 2010. PC will immediately be eligible for the conference's post-season tournament next season. The winner of the event earns a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Providence has competed as a Division I Independent School for six seasons and will compete in a conference for the first time since 2003.

"We are very excited to be affiliated with the America East Conference in volleyball. We feel it is a great fit for us in many ways," Royer said. "The move from being an Independent to being associated with this conference is the change that we have needed."

The Friars will join six other teams in America East, including the University of Albany, Binghamton University, the University of Hartford, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, the University of New Hampshire and Stony Brook University.

Providence volleyball will return 13-of-14 student-athletes next season from a team that posted a 10-16 record in 2009.