BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College Athletic Department announced the hiring of Alexis Ritson as the new head men's volleyball coach on Friday.  Ritson is a very familiar person to the athletic department and the men's program, after serving as the interim associate head men's volleyball coach this past season.

"I am very grateful to Van Zanic and President Troup for trusting me with the men's volleyball program here at Geneva," says Ritson.  "Working with the team this past season was a lot of fun and I couldn't ask for a better group of guys going into my first season as a head coach.  The team has a lot of potential for success in the first year of PAC men's volleyball, and I am excited to get going when everyone is back on campus in the fall!"

Ritson has a strong Geneva background, playing for the women's volleyball team from 2013 to 2016.  After graduating from Geneva in 2017 with a degree in sociology, she began her coaching career with a stint on the sidelines as Geneva's women's volleyball assistant coach.  She then moved on to SUNY Morrisville as an assistant women's volleyball coach, and after a year coaching the Mustangs, she was hired as an assistant at Southern Arkansas, where she served for two years.

Ritson returned to the area in 2022 when she was hired as an assistant women's coach at Division I Duquesne, where she served for one year.  Prior to the 2023 season, she came back to Geneva where she served as the primary assistant for the women's program under Head Coach Wendy Smith.  When the men's coaching position opened up prior to the school year, Ritson and Smith served as the interim men's coaches this past season.

In addition to her collegiate experience, Ritson has also served as the boys varsity coach at nearby Beaver County Christian School, while also serving as the head coach of Infinity Volleyball Club in Ohio.

"We are excited to officially bring Alexis on as our head men's volleyball coach," says Director of Athletics Van Zanic.  "She has a wealth of experience at the college level, and along with Coach Smith, led the men's team well last year on an interim basis.  Alexis has proven to be a tenacious recruiter and a great young coach who will help lead our program into the inaugural season in the Presidents' Athletic Conference."

Geneva will be breaking new ground this year under Ritson as the Golden Tornadoes participate in the first season that the PAC has sponsored men's volleyball.  Geneva spent the first six seasons as a varsity program competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.  Joining the Golden Tornadoes in the first season of PAC competition will be Bethany, Chatham, Grove City, Hiram, Saint Vincent and Thiel.

Along with her responsibilities as the head men's volleyball coach, Ritson will continue to serve as Geneva's assistant women's volleyball coach in the fall.