Georgia Highlands College adds women's volleyball as a full varsity sport

May 30, 2025

From GHC Athletics

Georgia Highlands College Director of Athletics Dr. Nicole Levering has announced the addition of women’s volleyball as a full varsity sport at the Division I level of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. The Chargers will compete in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) and play a full 25-game schedule.

A national search for the program’s first head coach is currently underway.

“I’m excited to announce the addition of women’s volleyball as a varsity sport for the 2025-26 academic year,” said Dr. Levering. “Volleyball is experiencing rapid growth and enjoys significant popularity in the northwest Georgia region. I eagerly anticipate nurturing the development of this program and its contribution to the expansion of the GHC Athletics Department.”

Josie Tolsma, a setter from Allatoona High School, will be one of the team leaders. She is starting her second term as the president of GHC’s Student Government Association (SGA) and also acts as a Student Ambassador.

“Volleyball becoming a full varsity sport is something that we on the team have worked very hard for,” Tolsma said. “We all put time and effort into our games, practices, and training—even when it wasn’t required—so I believe we have really earned this. We still have a lot to learn, but having an opportunity to prove ourselves as a varsity team and as part of the GHC family is an amazing opportunity.”

The Chargers will kick off their inaugural varsity season at home with the Three Rivers Volleyball Classic, hosted August 22–23. The event will feature matches against Trinity College of Florida, Cleveland State Community College (TN), and conference rival Andrew College. The team will then hit the road for a tournament at Wallace State Community College (AL), followed by a competitive slate of matches across the region, including games against Shorter University, Reinhardt University, Wesleyan College, and Calhoun Community College, among others.

Open tryouts will be conducted throughout the summer to find more players to join the current players on the roster.

Interested prospects should contact Clifton Puckett at cpuckett@highlands.edu.