Men's Volleyball: Can You Dig It?

By Tom Schreier

Although the men's club team competes on a smaller stage, the action is no less intense.

"The men's sport is a lot different from the women's sport. There are different plays, different strategies, it's a lot faster, there's more offense," said senior right side hitter Spencer Chavez.

The team had their first home game on Jan. 20 against Saint Mary's and it lived up to the billing. Men's volleyball is fast-paced and hard-hitting. Sitting in Malley Center, you could feel the force of a spike and hear the thud of a body hitting the ground on a dig. The stands were packed. With over 100 people in attendance, the Broncos were able to beat the Gaels in three sets by scores of 25-13, 25-18 and 25-21.

Not only are the strategies different between men's and women's volleyball, but the distribution of men's teams is the less sprawling than that of women's programs.

"For the rest of the country, it's kind of weird because a lot of guys don't play it," continued Chavez, a Southern California native.

Volleyball typically takes a back seat to football, baseball and hockey when it comes to men's sport of choice. However, there are select pockets around the country where that trend is not the case.

"Volleyball was an option (for me)," said junior setter Nate Griggs. "My two best friends played it with me. Loved it. Played it eight years, we had the best program in Texas."

Although Texas is a state associated much more with big time football powerhouses, Griggs chose volleyball over football in fifth grade.

"Currently there are 11 (volleyball) programs in Texas," said Griggs, a Dallas native.

There are other schools where men play volleyball at a high level, including the University of Wisconsin, Ohio State and Fresno State.

"So you have all these teams coming from all these other places where volleyball might not be a conventional sport," said Chavez, "but they produce very good volleyball teams."

Tall, lanky basketball players that, in Chavez's words, can "jump out of the gym" are taught how to play volleyball and develop a passion for the sport.

Griggs is one of only two athletes on Santa Clara's 20-man team that played volleyball in high school.

Chavez's father played Division I baseball in college and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins. So, naturally, when Spencer had to decide between volleyball and baseball in high school, he chose the latter.

"I kind of regret it because I really just love playing volleyball, just the game itself, which is not something that I can say for pretty much any other sport I've ever played," said Chavez. He was hesitant to join the team as a freshman and didn't think he would make the team.

During his sophomore year, he had a change of heart.

"I had played intramurals (freshman year) and just messed around," he explained. "I realized that I wanted to play and if I don't go try out I'm going to kick myself for it afterwards."

Two years later, he's a team president and playing significant minutes for the team.

"I can honestly say I look forward to going to practice every night and just being with the guys," he said. "I have no problem being president and putting time into it and spending extra hours working at it and being with the guys."

For Griggs, it was important during his college search that the schools he was looking into had club volleyball.

"I could have played Division III volleyball," said Griggs, who felt he was too small to play at the Division I level.

"At Santa Clara it worked out and having this team has been great," he continued. "For me, I didn't join a frat because this was basically a mini-frat."

The team practices during the week, plays games on the weekends and travels to various local tournaments throughout the year.

"The down time we spend together is invaluable," said Chavez, in reference to time spent at airports or waiting for meetings to start. "That's how teams mesh and that's how guys get to know each other."

Contact Tom Schreier at tschreier@scu.edu or (408) 554-4852.