BATTLE CREEK – Battle Creek has long been the center of the girls volleyball universe in Michigan with the state finals being held here at Kellogg Arena and St. Philip setting the record for the most state championships in the sport.
Well, now the boys of Battle Creek have joined the party.
The inaugural season of boys volleyball as a Michigan High School Athletic Association-sponsored tournament sport has begun with a handful of area teams participating, including Battle Creek Central and Lakeview. Michigan joins the list of 25 states across the country with full sanctioned boys volleyball.
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“Its very exciting. This is a very big step,” Lakeview coach Klay Helner said. “With this becoming an official sport, I can see it growing here in Michigan like it has in Indiana.”
There are 117 schools scheduled to participate in boys volleyball this season and be a part of the first MHSAA tournament in the sport. All of those teams will be hoping to make the journey to Battle Creek, just like the girls teams do in the fall. Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena will serve as the home of the state quarterfinals, semifinals and finals for boys volleyball in this first season on June 2-6.
At Battle Creek Central, excitement around boys volleyball started this fall during the girls volleyball season. BCC girls volleyball coach Gaby Shreve, who is also serving as the boys coach this spring, set up a fun match with her Lady Bearcats and some of the football players to settle some discussions the two groups were having.
“During the girls season, the football boys were always talking smack, saying they were better than us. So our football coach (Lorin) Granger and I set up a volleyball match with the boys against the girls,” Shreve said. “Let’s just say the boys learned a lot that day and learned volleyball was harder than they thought.
“But the boys had fun. We weren’t going to have a boys season, but the boys had so much fun playing us that it helped us decide to have a season.”
Lakeview played its first official match on Wednesday, April 15, facing Kalamazoo Central. For most boys volleyball teams across the state, there will be a wide spectrum of experience and skill level with many athletes coming to the sport for the first time.
“We have kids that have never touched a volleyball and we have kids that played club volleyball before,” Helner said. “In this first year, it’s not about wins or losses, it’s about growth.
“I think this season might even be a little shaky at time. But, I’ve been telling the guys to just stick with it and we will get better as we go. That’s what this season is about. But, we also want to be competitive and show people that Lakeview is starting something new and lasting. So there is a little pressure to have a good showing this year to help this program going forward.”
Lakeview sophomore Brogan Oxley came to the sport after watching his sister play for the Spartan girls team.
“Watched her play, spent time growing up watching all of those tournaments. It definitely made me want to play,” Oxley said. “When we found out there was going to be a team, I was thrilled to see it come to Lakeview and have it be an official MHSAA sport.”
Lakeview will play at BCC in the first official meeting of city schools on Wednesday, April 22. Lakeview is preparing to eventually play in the MHSAA regionals. BCC has opted out of the MHSAA tournament this first year, but has a full schedule.
“We didn’t know if we’d have enough players come out and our team came together late. But we are grateful for the nine boys that are on the team,” Shreve said. “Our long term goal is have this be a competitive program. Once we get fully committed, we have the athletes that can get this program on a roll.”
Growing interest in the community seems to be the key according to both coaches and the players.
“When I heard it was a sport and Lakeview would have a team, I was pretty pumped up about it,” Lakeview junior Sean O’Donnell said. “I’m always down to try something new. Always been interested in volleyball, played a little grass volleyball. Always wished it would be men’s sport in this state and glad they finally made it a sport.
“Hopefully, if people come out and watch us play, it will help grow the sport for us and we will continue to get bigger and better as a sport.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek officially begins boys volleyball era: ‘This is a very big step’
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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