NKU announced in 2023 that it would be adding six athletic programs. The programs that have already debuted are men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s triathlon and women’s stunt. The last of the programs, still yet to debut, is the men’s volleyball team. The wait is over, as the squad will play its first match in program history Today at 7 p.m. against Saint Francis at Regents Hall.
NKU athletic director Christina Roybal was assigned the difficult task of naming the first head coach in program history. She settled on Jim Palilonis.
Palilonis spent the majority of his career as an assistant coach in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the same conference in which Northern Kentucky will be beginning its Division I journey. He said the 75 years of history he learned at Ball State, paired with the 45 years of history he learned from Purdue Fort Wayne, helped prepare his team for the upcoming season.
“Realizing there is more than one way to do things. One thing I’ve had to get better about is remembering just because something happened in the past doesn’t mean that it has to happen in the future,” Palilonis said.
Palilonis strengthened his coaching staff by naming Jordan Little the first assistant coach in program history. This is his first opportunity at the Division I level, but he brings a pedigree of winning at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Amateur Athletic Union levels to the Norse program.
At the NAIA, he led the team to a 33-7 overall record over two seasons, making the conference title game in both seasons. At the AAU level, Little led his teams to national titles in 2019 and 2020, then followed that up with a couple more national championship appearances.
That level of winning has helped Little be confident that he can make it at the Division I level.
“There is a level of balance that you have to be humble enough to know there’s a lot you have to learn and be confident enough to know what you do know can get it done,” Little said.
Little also said despite that confidence he still comes into this season with a chip on his shoulder.
“I have a hunger to prove I belong here. I felt that I could coach and compete at this level. So I’m thankful to this university, to Jim, and to these guys. When I wake up in the morning and I drive in here, I literally think I’m living my dream right now,” Little said.
Palilonis added that Little has already been coaching at this level, just for players in their youth preparing to become division I athletes. That is backed up as he has coached more than 10 athletes on the Volleyballmag.com’s Fab 50 list, including a top three recruit from the 2022 class and 30 division I signees.
Regardless of the result, being part of an inaugural season means you etch yourself within program history. Palilonis said he is grateful to the university and will not take the opportunity to lead this group for granted.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to coach these guys. We got an incredible group of guys that have been getting better and better. Having Jordan on our staff is incredibly helpful. Gratefulness and gratitude is one of the biggest factors I feel right now,” Palilonis said.
One of the captains — outside hitter Griffin Wheatley, who attended high school in nearby Cincinnati — is excited about the opportunity to return home to play the sport he loves.
“I would say I’m grateful. I’m from the area so it’s cool to come back and play on a first year team and be part of developing a culture. That has been a lot of fun. I’m grateful for the opportunity and it’s great to be back home,” Wheatley said.
Right side hitter and fellow captain Will McElveen said he is excited to start this program and to see what it can become.
“I’m excited. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I’m excited to watch how this program grows and how we can show what we’re made of in the first season. Then I’m excited to come back in 10 to 20 years and see where it is then,” McElveen said.
An inaugural season means that no matter what you do, you are the first in team history to do it. With that, many might expect that pressure comes along with it. For this Norse program, they see no need to feel pressure.
“There are no standards. We’re the ones who get to decide what the standards are. There is no pressure for us and there are no expectations. I think the guys have adopted that philosophy and they’re going out there and crushing it everyday,” Little said.
Wheatley added that the preseason conference rankings having them listed at second to last — which allows for no expectations — but also an ability to surprise any team.
McElveen said there is no pressure on the team or on him individually, but he’s not using that as an excuse to take it easy.
“I can expect us to make a lot of noise in our conference and to really turn a lot of people’s heads this year. There is zero pressure to be great, but we’re going to do it anyway,” McElveen said.
Palilonis said his goal for the season is not to allow his players to be overwhelmed – either by the pressure others put on them, or pressure that’s self inflicted.
“Pressure is what you put on yourself sometimes. I don’t feel these guys should feel any extra pressure. Just go out and play and have fun and let us take that pressure off you,” Palilonis said.
There are differences between men’s and women’s volleyball. Some are rule variations – for example, the libero does not get to serve, and there are only six substitutions per game allowed, compared to 15 in women’s volleyball. The biggest difference is the amount of opportunity to play at the Division I level.
There are 10 times as many women’s programs as there are for men’s in DI. Palilonis says that scarcity does ensure any men’s volleyball match spectators watch at that level features elite talent.
Little added there is one distinct quality of men’s volleyball.
“The physicality. We got a couple guys on the team that can serve 70 miles per hour. We got some big dudes and that doesn’t translate until you’re there. Being there in person is one of the most underrated parts of our sport,” Little said.
With any first year program, the expectations may not be high, especially from opponents. McElveen said that is exactly what he is hoping for.
“Another goal for us is to be able to leave a sufficient mark on this season. I’m excited to see how these teams play us differently from the second time to the first. They’re going to come in with the mindset of ‘whatever first year team’ and they’re going to come back in the second game and realize we just killed them,” McElveen said.
Palilonis wasn’t as confident initially. He said it was simple expectations at first, just hoping to not be the only team to miss the conference tournament. Once the team all made it on campus and had its first practice, he realized those expectations are “fluid” and may need to be raised.
“I want to host a conference tournament game. I want to be one of the top four teams. That might be a little ambitious. Our conference from top to bottom is ridiculously tough. We’re going to be able to surprise some people. If you give us an inch, we’re going to take a foot,” Palilonis said.
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