Men’s Volleyball announces schedule for first season

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The new Defiance College men's volleyball program begins competition this winter with a 26-game regular season schedule, the athletic department announced on Thursday.

The Yellow Jackets will make their historic entry into the NAIA men's volleyball landscape at home on Jan. 22 against Olivet at 7 p.m. Defiance then embarks on a 6-game road swing that kicks off WHAC play at Lourdes on Feb. 3. DC becomes the 10th member of the WHAC men's volleyball circuit, joining full members Aquinas, Indiana Tech, Lourdes, Lawrence Tech, Rochester Christian and Cornerstone while Bethel, Goshen and Mount Vernon Nazarene round out the league as affiliate members.

The conference schedule will consist of a double round-robin slate of 18 matches, facing each team once at home and on the road. DC has also included regional non-conference matchups against Trinity Christian, Olivet Nazarene, Brescia, Kentucky State and Roosevelt while also including NCAA Division III foes in Olivet and Franklin.

2026 Defiance Men's Volleyball Schedule
Jan. 22 vs. Olivet, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30 vs. Rio Grande, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Lourdes*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Roosevelt, 8 p.m. (7 CT)
Feb. 10 at Indiana Tech*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Lawrence Tech*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 17 at Rochester Christian*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 vs. Goshen*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 21 vs. Bethel*, 2 p.m.
Feb. 27 vs. Cornerstone*, 7 p.m.
Feb. 28 vs. Aquinas*, 2 p.m.
Mar. 6 vs. Olivet Nazarene, 7 p.m.
Mar. 7 at Mount Vernon Nazarene*, 2 p.m.
Mar. 12 at Franklin, 7 p.m.
Mar. 13 at Brescia, 7 p.m.
Mar. 14 at Kentucky State, 2 p.m.
Mar. 17 vs. Indiana Tech*, 7 p.m.
Mar. 20 vs. Rochester Christian*, 7 p.m.
Mar. 21 vs. Lawrence Tech*, 2 p.m.
Mar. 27 at Aquinas*, 7 p.m.
Mar. 28 at Cornerstone*, 2 p.m.
Mar. 31 vs. Franklin, 7 p.m.
Apr. 4 vs. Lourdes*, 2 p.m.
Apr. 8 vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene*, 7 p.m.
Apr. 10 at Bethel*, 7 p.m.
Apr. 11 at Goshen*, 2 p.m.
Apr. 14-18 WHAC Tournament

Quoting Head Coach Jeremy Thornburg
I am excited for the inaugural men's volleyball season as a member of the competitive Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. This schedule allows us the opportunity to be tested and succeed. Defiance College and the community will get an opportunity right away to see our team compete at home to open the season. Our non-conference schedule is challenging, while it will also provide a lot of our team opportunities to show what they are capable of. We have a hungry group of young men who are eager to prove that we can compete in the WHAC. I am looking forward to January and excited to get started!

-JACKETS-