Team attack: Men’s volleyball makes its Randolph debut

Coach Jordan Leandro

While on the recruiting trail for Randolph’s new men’s volleyball team, coach Jordan Leandro focuses on one core principle: Can prospective players take care of business on and off the court? 

“When we talk on the court, it’s pretty straightforward,” he said. “But it’s also about what he does in the classroom and in the community—all those things that are important to me that shine through when I start to recruit them.

“It’s going to mean something to everybody when I give them a Randolph College jersey,” he added. “You’re not just representing the school. You’re representing yourself, your family, your hometown, and every single person who has impacted where you are today.” 

Character counts for Leandro, who played volleyball at Grove City College in Pennsylvania when the team was consistently ranked among the top 25 Division III club teams in the country. 

“Coach Leandro is shaping us as players and as men,” said Conner Maher ’28, who moved across the country from Arizona to join the team. “He encourages and pushes me to be the best version of myself I can be and the best player I can be on the court.” 

Leandro came to Randolph from Northwestern High School in Albion, Pennsylvania, where he taught math and coached the girls’ volleyball team. 

“It became apparent in the interview process that Jordan’s seemingly endless energy and passion for the sport of volleyball will translate well to the collegiate men’s game,” Randolph Athletic Director Tom Galbraith said. “He is a proven program builder as both a coach and player, and he will be a perfect fit for the program we intend to establish at Randolph.”

Participation in men’s volleyball is growing across the nation. The NCAA recently granted it National Championship status, which requires participation from 33 percent of NCAA Division I schools. 

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference announced its adoption as a sponsored sport for the 2025 spring season, with six schools set to compete alongside Randolph: Averett University, Eastern Mennonite University, the University of Lynchburg, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, and Virginia Wesleyan University. 

“The thing I love most about volleyball is that it is truly a team sport,” said Maher, who played on his high school team. “There is no room for selfishness.” 

The season runs from January to April, with a home opener scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28, against Warren Wilson College. 

“We’re going to have our highs and lows, but we’re setting the foundation for what’s to come, and that’s my biggest goal for this year,” Leandro said. “Every person in our program understands the why behind what we’re doing. If we don’t understand why we’re doing something, we’re not doing it with the right intent or purpose, both of which matter when it comes to building a successful team.” 

Follow the men’s volleyball team at https://randolphwildcats.com/sports/mens-volleyball and check out their full schedule at https://randolphwildcats.com/sports/mens-volleyball/schedule/2025.

This story appears in the Fall 2024 edition of Randolph College’s magazine, Vita Abundantior.