University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (D3) Adds Women's Lacrosse

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – UW-Stevens Point athletics will expand to 25 varsity sports with the addition of men's volleyball and women's lacrosse. Additionally, Philippe Abiad has been named head men's volleyball coach as the program will begin competition in the 2023-24 academic year. 

"Women's lacrosse and men's volleyball are natural next steps in the growth Pointers Athletics," stated UWSP Director of Athletics Brad Duckworth. "Chancellor Gibson has outlined increasing enrollment and growth as a strategic imperative. These additions fit firmly into Chancellor Gibson's imperative. Pointer student-athletes strive for competitive excellence, academic rigor and exploration, and community service and impact. We are all thrilled to provide the Pointer experience to even more student athletes with these additional sports." Abiad comes to UWSP after serving as club director for Wisconsin Flight and was the club director for One Wisconsin Volleyball Club from 2018 to 2022. 

Prior to that, Abiad spent 18 seasons as an assistant coach for the women's volleyball program at Cleveland State University. There, he helped CSU win five Horizon League Tournament and five Horizon League regular season titles. Under his tutelage, Abiad coached seven All-Americans while at Cleveland State. The Vikings had 13 all-region selections and 19 first-team all-conference selections.

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Posted in: Division III,Wisconsin

Elms College (D3 MA) Adds Men's Lacrosse

CHICOPEE, Mass. - Men's Lacrosse is being added as an NCAA Division III varsity sport in the 2023-2024 academic year at Elms College, and Robert Cross has been selected as Elms' first-ever head coach in the sport.  The native of Black River, NY, Cross graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) receiving his B.A. in Sociology. As a STUDENT-athlete, Cross earned three varsity letters and was a two-year starter for the Retrievers. He appeared in 34 games with 15 starts for UMBC totaling 15 goals and 5 assists. After graduation, Cross began coaching and shortly started building quite a resume. Cross previously served as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University, UMBC, Harvard,
Rutgers, University of Delaware, and Siena College. 

In addition to his vast experience at the collegiate level, Coach Cross was head boys lacrosse coach at Northfield Mount Herman School and currently serves as an assistant coach at the professional level for the Premiere Lacrosse League Waterdogs.

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Posted in: Division III,Massachusetts

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (D3 PA) Adds Lacrosse

Bradford, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has announced that it will add men’s and women’s lacrosse to its varsity sports program. They will be the first programs added since Wrestling became a varsity sport offering in the 2018-19 academic year. 

"We're looking forward to having lacrosse teams as well as a new turffacility, which will provide new and enhanced opportunities and facilities for our student-athletes as well as for our fans," said President Rick Esch. The teams will compete in the NCAA with conference affiliations still to be finalized. The men’s team will function as a club sport for the 2023-24 academic year and begin intercollegiate varsity competition in 2024-25. The women’s team will function as a club team in 2024-25 and as a competing varsity team in 2025-26.

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Posted in: Division III,Pennsylvania