Through the generosity of Vicky Chun '91, MA '94, Janie Kass '81, and Cindy Swensen '84, a trio of Colgate alumnae with strong ties to the volleyball program, the Colgate Volleyball Family Endowment has been established to provide annual support for the varsity volleyball program. This marks the first time that a group of alumnae have come together to establish an endowment for a varsity women's team. 
 
Increased support to this endowment came this spring after the passing of Chun's mother, Susan P'91. Chun asked that gifts in her mother's memory be directed in support of the Volleyball Family Endowment. More than $240,000 in gifts and commitments has been raised from nearly 60 alumni, families, and friends for this special tribute.
 
"Colgate's 50-year celebration of co-education and the continued success of the volleyball program inspired me to reach out to Coach Baker, Janie, and Cindy," said Chun. "I think every former player, manager, and coach can affirm that much of the program's successes stems from the support and closeness of our families — which makes the naming so special." 
 
Vicky Chun '91, MA '94 was a student-athlete, coach, and the first woman director of athletics at Colgate. Throughout her time at Colgate, Chun was the 1991 Patriot League Player of the Year, 1996 Patriot League Coach of the Year and 2018 NACDA FCS Athletic Director of the Year. When Chun was named Director of Athletics in 2015, she was the first Asian American woman athletics director in NCAA Division I history. Chun is currently the director of athletics at Yale University.
 
An avid Raiders fan, Kass served as statistician for volleyball, women's basketball and softball during her four years at Colgate. And, of particular importance, she was the first statistician hired directly by the women's teams. Her devotion to Colgate Athletics did not end when she graduated as Kass has been a generous supporter ever since. In 1981 Kass received her undergraduate degree in Mathematical Economics from Colgate and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to earn her MBA from Harvard in 1985, and has had a long and successful career in finance and investments as managing director for global firms in San Francisco, California, and New York.
 
As a standout and model student-athlete, Swensen was a four-year volleyball letter winner during her time at Colgate. Swensen earned her degree with Honors in Economics from Colgate in 1984 and her Masters in Interactive Telecommunications from NYU in 2007. After time spent on Wall Street financing projects and Fortune 500 companies, the former Colgate volleyball captain helped launch cable networks for Walt Disney. She has spent the last 15 years as an Executive Coach guiding leaders and leadership teams around the globe to define their mission, hone their leadership skills, and create strategies for success.
 
These three women truly embody Colgate Athletics' virtues of thoughtful, driven, cohesive, enthusiastic, and bold.
 
"This is a remarkable and exciting time to be the head coach of the Colgate volleyball program," said Ryan Baker. "To be the first women's-only program to have an endowment speaks volumes about the amazing alumnae we have within our program and at Colgate. It goes without saying that this is a program-changing gift. I am so grateful to Vicky, Janie, and Cindy for starting this endowment. We are at the top of the Patriot League each season and this support is exactly what we needed at this moment in time."
 
"What an amazing demonstration of love for Colgate by Vicky, Janie, and Cindy. Each of them has made a positive impact on the evolution of athletics at Colgate — through their participation as student-athletes and their professional and volunteer contributions," said Dr. Nicki Moore, Vice President and Director of Athletics.
 
"Now, their gifts through the establishment of the Colgate Volleyball Family Endowment, will continue their impact in perpetuity. Our women's varsity teams hold incredible potential, both to deliver a world-class scholar-athlete experience, and to expand the reach and reputation of Colgate. With Coach Baker at the helm, and with dedicated alumnae support such as this, the volleyball program is helping to lead the charge to realize that promise. I hope this meaningful tribute by some amazing Colgate women will inspire other former teammates to reconnect and consider supporting their teams in the same way."
 
The Colgate volleyball program recently concluded its 2020-21 campaign, where the Raiders earned the No. 1 seed and the right to host the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2012. After recording a 7-1 mark in the regular season, the Raiders advanced to their first Patriot League Championship since 2016 and finished the season 5-1 at home on Cotterell Court.
 
Being recognized on a national stage, the Raiders claimed several postseason awards as senior outside hitter Alli Lowe was named to AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and as back-to-back Patriot League Player of the Year. After earning the first Patriot League Setter of the Year honor in program history, junior Julia Kurowski was also recognized with her second consecutive First Team-All-Patriot League honor. Also becoming the program's first rookie to be named to Second Team All-Patriot League honors since 2009 (Kaleigh Durket), was middle blocker Harper Snyder.
 
For more information or to make a gift to the Colgate Volleyball Family Endowment, please contact Jen Stone, assistant vice president for advancement, at jstone@colgate.edu or 315-228-6928.