Brandon Rosenthal’s 400 career wins reflect what Lipscomb volleyball is about
When one goes through the Lipscomb volleyball program, it begins and ends at head coach Brandon Rosenthal’s house.
Players are invited into his home for meals on weekends, holiday celebrations, and on graduation day, seniors share a brunch before heading to Allen Arena to receive their diplomas.
On August 29, 2025, Lipscomb volleyball set a new attendance record when No. 1 Nebraska visited Allen Arena — 4,235 people filled the purple seats.
The best team in the country was visiting Nashville. It was the first game of the year for Lipscomb, complete with a large student tailgate in front of the gym entrance.
While all of that is nice, it was bigger than the competition. Rosenthal was recognized before the match for his 400th career win that came at the end of the prior season, and it just so happened to be alumni weekend for Lipscomb volleyball.
Many of the players who helped compile those wins were in attendance — those people who spent time dining in his home.
The loss to Nebraska didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. The community that Rosenthal has spent 23 years building does.
“With so many alumni in attendance, that’s what meant everything to me,” Rosenthal said. “To be able to walk out after the match and have all the alumni and their kids either playing on the court or asking our girls for autographs was just this incredible experience.”
One hundred and ten people who helped break the attendance record were former Lipscomb volleyball players. Just like from their playing days, they found themselves back at Rosenthal’s house for a meal over the weekend.
According to the head coach, that’s roughly 75% of his former players. While they are all tied together through the program, many were meeting each other for the first time.
“That’s wild to me that you have all these people walking around my house and they’re all a part of something, but they don’t necessarily know each other,” Rosenthal said. “To hear different groups talking and then those groups blending was everything that I would ever want.”
It’s one of the best parts about being part of that program. What Rosenthal has built is an uncommon community.
“When you become a part of Lipscomb volleyball, you are truly adopted into a family,” former Lipscomb volleyball player Addi Pelham said. “Brandon has created such a special culture that I truly believe is unlike any other college program. Brandon and Kate (his wife) are constantly hosting the players and alumni for dinners and parties because of their heart for the girls. Some of my favorite memories from my time as a Lipscomb volleyball player were spent laughing over dinner at Brandon’s house or during a team Halloween or Christmas party.”
It was never about his 400th win or the number of fans piled into an arena in Nashville; it’s about the people who make up what Lipscomb volleyball is. That’s what Rosenthal has done.
