On the waxy gym floors of the North building, twelve players are lined up at the end of the court. From strangers to teammates and from teammates to friends, six juniors and six seniors stand together, side by side. Tonight, they face their opponents for the title of District Champions.
Not many people are interested in boys’ volleyball. When it started in West Michigan, there were four teams: Grand Haven, Allendale, Grand Rapids Christian, and West Ottawa. That was in 2018. Six years later, MHSAA announced boys’ volleyball will be recognized as an official varsity sport in the 2025-2026 school year. With only 80 teams in the state, hopefully more will be added in the coming years.
A stigma is seen on many online posts. Comments from an Instagram reel said, Who is watching men’s volleyball? Volleyball is a women’s sport, and Gay. Grant Strong, a Sr. libero attending Ohio State University, originally from Tampa, Florida, said, “Like growing up, there definitely was [a stigma] and it was very uncommon for a guy to play volleyball. There definitely is and was a stigma and as I got older, it got more accepted and respected.” Strong also mentioned his struggles with this stigma as he grew up: “In middle school, people would pass judgment by saying it’s a girls sport to me, but I would just inform them on the facts being that it’s a NCAA sanctioned sport and in the Olympics.”
Local boys’ volleyball players experienced this stigma as well. West Ottawa graduate Sam Bishop, an outside hitter on last year’s varsity team, shared his thoughts: “Even though it has been running as a club for years now and is just now about to be a sport, it’s not considered normal for a boy to play volleyball… Boys would rather take on a sport that requires more physical strength, speed, or aggression.”
Despite the barriers, many players still make tireless efforts. West Ottawa graduate Jalen Yan, the libero from last year’s team. “My biggest challenge during the season was my motivation for the sport… Towards the end of the season, I took a week break from volleyball to focus on myself and what I needed to do to love volleyball again,” he said. Bishop commented on the team’s challenges: “One of the biggest challenges we encountered was our mental. As a team, we battled hard and overcame these mental droughts at some times, which is hard to do in the middle of a game.”
Not only do they try to overcome the stigma during the season, but the team pushes themselves during the off-season as well. Bishop explained how he prepared in the off-season, “I probably went to almost every volleyball event I could, as well as played travel volleyball in which there are many teams in the area. I could feel myself improving drastically.” Bishop isn’t the only one; West Ottawa graduate Jeremiah Yottavong lifted weights, Sr. Devin Thanadabouth watched films, and Yan joined a club team.
Many boys’ volleyball players are as dedicated and committed as other athletes. Despite the stigma associated, people still defend and push for its growth. Volleyball requires the skills and strength that football, basketball, and other sports need. Soon, boys’ volleyball will be officially recognized as a varsity sport in the 2025-2026 school year. By showing excitement for men’s volleyball, we can inspire more boys to take interest in the sport and enjoy all it has to offer.
