Dig. Set. Spike. Three terms both students and faculty at Truckee Meadows Community College will hear quite often in the coming years.
TMCC Mighty Lizard Athletics is thrilled to announce the addition of Women’s Volleyball, becoming the third intercollegiate athletics program hosted on campus after the addition of Men’s & Women’s Soccer in 2019. This announcement comes after the NSHE Board of Regents approved the budget to add the sport during their recent December meeting. Women’s Volleyball will play its home matches in the Joseph P. Ayarbe Gymnasium inside the TMCC Sports and Fitness Center beginning Fall 2026.
“The addition of the new women’s intercollegiate volleyball team is a monumental step forward in our athletics program,” stated TMCC Athletic Director Geoffrey Hawkins. “We believe this program will serve the strong volleyball community in the Reno-Sparks area.”
TMCC Volleyball will compete in NJCAA Region XVIII along with Utah State University Eastern, Snow College, Salt Lake Community College, College of Southern Idaho, North Idaho College and Colorado Northwestern Community College.
TMCC Athletics has seen newfound success with both the Men’s & Women’s Soccer programs, having had both teams qualify for the Region XVIII Tournament twice in the past six years. A regional tournament berth for Women’s Volleyball would be no easy feat in the program’s early years, but certainly an obtainable goal moving forward.
“Region XVIII is in the NJCAA Division I and is one of the most competitive regions in the nation. The schools within this Region are focused on winning a national title each year,” stated Hawkins. “It drives athletes to strive for excellence, fuels motivation, and pushes athletes to maximize their potential. The importance of strong competition can’t be emphasized enough and is critical to the development of our athletes.”
TMCC fields a unique intercollegiate athletic history, initially starting as a satellite campus for Western Nevada Community College. Under Director of Athletics Joe Ayarbe, namesake of the TMCC gym, WNCC sponsored basketball, golf, track and boxing, gaining athletic notoriety until ceasing operations after 1979. It wasn’t until 2016 when a student-led initiative to bring back athletics ultimately caught the attention of the NSHE Board of Regents, who approved the new budget the following spring. Two years later, TMCC Men’s and Women’s Soccer took part in their inaugural seasons.
“We are always exploring options to expand our athletics program,” stated Hawkins. “With the support of our students and local community, we can make this happen.”
A national search for a coach will take place immediately, with the intent of having one hired before the upcoming fall semester. Auditions will take place prior to Spring 2026 in hopes of competing in offseason matches prior to the start of their inaugural campaign.
For more information, contact the TMCC Athletics Department or the Mighty Lizards website.