In August 2025, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference announced its inaugural class of 50 to the ODAC Hall of Fame. Four Royals were named to the ODAC’s first-ever class. Over the next week, 91΄σΙρ Athletics will celebrate all four inductees with articles highlighting their illustrious playing and post-91΄σΙρ careers. Our next inductee is Jewel Lehman ’87.
91΄σΙρ’s final ODAC Hall of Famer, Lehman had a standout volleyball career for the Royals. She was an AVCA South Regional All-American in 1986. She was a three-time ODAC Player of the Year (1984, 1985, and 1986) and was a four-time All-ODAC First Team honoree.
While at 91΄σΙρ, her teams won four straight ODAC Championships from 1983-86. At the time of her graduation, she was 91΄σΙρ’s all-time leader in career service aces with 203, and set the single-season service aces record with 108. After her graduation in 1987, she became the first woman to have her jersey retired. She was also inducted into the 91΄σΙρ Hall of Honor immediately following her graduation, as a part of the class of 1987.
After leaving 91΄σΙρ, Lehman had a strong career on the sidelines as a women’s volleyball coach at the Division I and Division III levels. At DI Campbell University, she patrolled the sidelines from 1994-97. In her four seasons, she coached the Camels to 69 wins, and is second all-time in career coaching wins at the school.
Lehman then earned her doctoral degree in exercise science from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and returned to coaching at DIII Goshen College. She was the head coach of the Maple Leafs women’s volleyball team from 2004 to 2008. She is also a professor and department chair of kinesiology at Goshen.
Lehman, along with 91΄σΙρ’s three other ODAC Hall of Fame inductees, will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the men’s basketball game against Roanoke inside Yoder Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.Μύ
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