GHC to Begin First Full Season of NJCAA Women’s Volleyball
Georgia Highlands College (GHC) 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.”
Among the leaders of the team will be Josie Tolsma, a setter from Allatoona High School. Tolsma is entering her second term as GHC’s Student Government Association (SGA) president and also serves 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.
Interested applicants for the head coaching position should contact Dr. Levering directly at nleverin@highlands.edu. The job posting will soon be available at highlands.edu/jobs.
Team Roster:
Erin Davis, S, Calhoun High School
Lexi Adcock, DS, Adairsville High School
Abby Farr, H, Adairsville High School
Jasmin Gomez, L, Cartersville High School
Vanessa Johnson, OH, Cartersville High School
Alissa Robinson, MB, Wheeler High School
Emma Goodson, DS/L, Rockmart High School
Sophia Senegal, DS/L, Praise Christian Academy
Josie Tolsma, S, Allatoona High School
Amanda Davison, DS, Excel Christian Academy
Victoria Perry, MB, Creekview High School
Fall 2025 Schedule:
August 22-23: Three Rivers Volleyball Classic @ GHC
vs. Andrew College
vs. Cleveland State CC
vs. Trinity College of Florida
August 28-29: @ Wallace State CC Invitational
Tuesday, September 2 v Reinhardt JV @ GHC Cartersville
Saturday, September 6 @ Cleveland State CC, 2pm
Tuesday, September 9 @ Reinhardt JV
Saturday, September 13 @ Wesleyan Tri-Match; vs. Wesleyan & Paine College
Monday, September 15 @ Shorter JV, 7pm
Tuesday, September 16 v Trinity Baptist College & Covenant College JV
Thursday, September 25 @ Covenant College JV, 6pm
Saturday, September 27 @ Andrew College, 1pm
Monday, September 29 @ Calhoun CC, 5:30pm
Friday, October 3 @ Trinity College of Florida, Trinity, FL, 6:30pm
Monday, October 6 v Shorter JV
Wednesday, October 8 v Wesleyan College
Friday, October 10 @ Toccoa Falls College, 2pm
Friday, October 17 v Toccoa Falls College, 2pm
Saturday, October 18 v Gordon State, 3pm @ GHC Cartersville
Tuesday, October 21 @ Wallace State CC
Friday, October 31 @ Trinity College of Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL