The College of William & Mary (W&M) volleyball program had a heartbreaking call on Thursday, September 3^rd when it learned that it would be one of seven programs at the institution that would no longer be sponsored as a Division I sport.

Then, in an incredible turn of events on October 19^th, after the athletes and staff were finally crawling out from under the immense emotional weight of their sport being cut, and their questioning about and planning for what’s next, the university announced the reinstatement of three women's sports – gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball. Removing those sports wouldn’t have been compliant with Title IX standards. The university said that restoring them “moved the university closer to its goal of achieving gender equity.”

“It’s been emotional, to say the least,” said W&M head volleyball coach Tim Doyle.