Mount St. Joseph University has a new lockey room thanks to Aroldis Chapman.
Mount St. Joseph University has a new lockey room thanks to Aroldis Chapman. (Mount Saint Joseph)

Thanks to Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, the men's volleyball team at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati has a brand new locker room. Chapman donated 80 percent of the money needed for the renovation, though the exact amount was undisclosed.

So what, exactly, ties Chapman to a small Division III school? MLB.com's Mark Sheldon explains:

What links Chapman to the program is volleyball player Cesar Trigo de Serrano, a senior from Miami, Fla., whose parents are from Cuba -- just like the three-time National League All-Star. Chapman defected from the communist nation in 2009 and signed a six-year, $30.25 million contract with the Reds in January 2010. de Serrano moved to Cincinnati several years ago before enrolling at MSJ as an adult transfer student. He also became a friend of Chapman's.

"We have seen him at our matches in the past because Cesar is a very close friend of his," men's volleyball coach Ryan Lengerich told MLB.com. "When it came time that we were considering the locker room renovation, Aroldis found out about us raising money for this project and he made a donation. He's been to our matches and has seen what we're all about. We've all met him.

As part of the renovation, the locker room -- which is used exclusively by the volleyball team -- now features 21 custom wood lockers and new flooring. Chapman donated the 80 percent and the team raised the other 20.

"What makes a large donation or a small donation doesn't necessarily have to do with the amount given, but the impact it has on those who benefit," added Lengerich. "Whether the amount Aroldis gave the volleyball program is a lot or a little is subjective. What I do know is that the positive impact his donation had on the 18 student-athletes and two coaches in the men's volleyball program is remarkable, and we could not be more thankful."

Lengerich said the team hopes to publicly thank Chapman for the donation at some point. They are already putting a plaque on the wall in his honor.

The MSJ volleyball team begins their season on Saturday. They went 16-11 last season after going 4-21 the year before.