Saint Anselm College transitioning to DIII

Saint Anselm College applied to reclassify to the NCAA Division III level for athletics. 

The Hawks, which are currently part of Northeast-10 Conference (NCAA Division II), has accepted an invitation to become a member of the NCAA Division III New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).  

Saint Anselm will remain in the Northeast-10 through 2026-27 and will officially begin competing in the NEWMAC during the 2027-28 season. They will become fully eligible for NCAA postseason at the Division III level during the 2028-29 academic school year.

Saint Anselm College President Joseph A. Favazza provides the reasoning for the transition in the video below: 

"What stood out most about Saint Anselm College throughout this process was how naturally their institutional vales aligned with the NEWMAC's," said Patrick Summers, executive director of the NEWMAC. "In a challenging higher education landscape, a strategic priority and focal point of our conference's vision includes being proactive around growth to ensure stability and sustainability for the future of our membership and programs."

Saint Anselm volleyball, who posted a 12-13 record last season, should be a competitive member once they join the NEWMAC. They will be led by Bedford, NH native Mckenna O'Connell, who led the Hawks in assists as a first year this past season. O'Connell will be a junior by the time Saint Anselm joins the NEWMAC. 

The Hawks also have a number of underclassmen who will be pivotal once St. Anselm drops to DIII, including Taylor Lacerdo ('28), Peyton Elward ('29), and Etta Rocco ('29), who finished second, third and fourth on the team in kills this past season respectively.