Volleyball Club hits the net

Men’s volleyball is a new student rec club that came together in January of this year, and club members are looking forward to next year, when they aim to become competitive at an intercollegiate level.

The club’s title is deceiving, as it was originally set up as an outlet for males interested in the sport, but it has since been opened to females as well.

One of the club leaders, Nick Koller, said he has high hopes for the club.

“We are building the program to be a valuable part of college life at PSU,” Koller said.

Currently the team does not play official games, but—paperwork pending—they will join an intercollegiate league with the Pacific Intercollegiate Volleyball Association in which they would play games against other colleges around the Northwest such as the University of Washington, Oregon State and Boise State.

The leaders hope to get the team involved in the league in November, with plans to appear in three tournaments throughout the season, most likely in Spokane, Seattle and Boise.

Currently the club practices twice a week at the Academic and Student Rec Center gyms, and practice sessions are open to every level from novice to experienced. The club trains from 9–11 p.m. on Mondays and from 7–9 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Anthony Derda-Rizzuto, another one of the club’s leaders, said they are very welcoming of new players, no matter the level of experience.

“We will teach people that have never played in a competitive environment how to play,” Derda-Rizzuto said.

Because Oregon does not have a collegiate men’s volleyball league, there are few outlets for the sport throughout the state. The club encourages men that played volleyball outside of the state at a high school level, most notably in California, to become a part of the club.

Derda-Rizzuto, Koller and the third leader, Dave Plack, are very accommodating and are always looking for new faces to join the club.

“I just enjoy the camaraderie,” Koller said. “It’s a game where no two players are the same, and it is always fast-paced.”

With next year being the club’s first full year of playing, the leaders are looking to build a strong foundation for the program so that intercollegiate play can indeed become a reality.

Practices are open to all PSU students, and the club’s leaders offer that it is an opportunity to get involved in a positive volleyball experience on campus.