BUENA VISTA, VA. — Vice President and Director of Athletics Deidra Dryden today announced the addition of Southern Virginia University's 28th varsity athletics program: women's beach volleyball, with Jon Baker serving as the team's inaugural head coach.
 
"We are excited to add women's beach volleyball here at Southern Virginia University," exclaimed Dryden. "Beach volleyball is one of the fastest-growing NCAA sports, and we are thrilled to be a part of it."
 
Baker brings a wealth of coaching experience to the new team, having served as the associate head coach for women's volleyball for the past five seasons, during which the program achieved remarkable success, including back-to-back conference championships the last two seasons (2021, 2022).
 
In addition to his role with women's volleyball, Baker also serves as the associate head coach for the Knights men's volleyball team. Baker has been instrumental in helping the men's team reach three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including the program's 2020 run to the NCAA Semifinals. In 2022, Baker was named AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
"Coach Baker has had a major positive impact on our university's women's and men's volleyball programs and is the right leader to take on the recruiting and coaching responsibilities for this new program," said Dryden.
 
"I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead a new program at the university and eager to start recruiting for the 2024 class," added Baker. "With the addition of a beach program, we hope to enhance our two already very successful volleyball programs [men's and women's indoor volleyball] and give more female student-athletes opportunities to participate in NCAA sports."
 
By Fall 2024, women's beach volleyball will be offered as a varsity sport at Southern Virginia with an exhibition season in Spring 2024 followed by a full competitive season in Spring 2025.
 
For more updates about Southern Virginia University's athletics programs and women's beach volleyball, follow us on Instagram at @svuathletics or visit our official website knightathletics.com.