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An exciting, fast-paced sport is coming to Mabee Arena in 2021-22. Kansas Wesleyan has announced the addition of men's volleyball as the university's 25th varsity sport.

Men's volleyball will be the second sport added under the leadership of Director of Athletics Steve Wilson, as women's flag football was added earlier this year, and will begin competition this spring.

The men's volleyball season runs from January to April. The national championships are held during the second week of April. Teams are allowed up to 28 playing dates for the season.

On the heels of its highest enrollment figure since 2011, Kansas Wesleyan University’s positive image within the state continues to grow. KWU announced Thursday that it had moved up to fourth in the state in a pair of recently released college rankings. 

On Niche.com’s 2021 rankings of private colleges within Kansas, KWU is ranked fourth among private colleges and ninth among all colleges in the state, ahead of such schools as Washburn and Benedictine. It also placed third in the category of Most Diverse College in the Sunflower State.  

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas Wesleyan University’s enrollment is at its highest point since 2011. The university released its official fall enrollment numbers Wednesday, in conjunction with the 20^th Day of the semester. 

KWU’s enrollment for the term is 803 students, an increase of more than 12% and the highest figure since fall 2011. Approximately 40% of KWU’s on-ground students work full or part-time jobs in the immediate area, thereby providing a significant boost to the area economically. 

The advice Miguel Prieto received from his family as a youngster in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., was always the same.

“Growing up I would always here from my uncles and family members say ‘get your education, don’t be like us, you have the opportunity to do better,’” Prieto said. “I always had my parents’ and sisters’ support, they always pushed me to do well, both on the field and in the classroom. 

“They’d tell me you have to get your education, education comes first. Soccer should always be that cherry on top.”