Recently, a video has been making its rounds on the Internet, featuring a men's volleyball player getting his face crushed by hard hits in a college men's volleyball match between Yale and UNC. There's only one problem with this picture: Yale and UNC don't have varsity men's volleyball programs. This goes unnoticed because c'mon, the guy scores a point with his face. How great is that? Still, many people would be surprised to know there are only 29 Division I Men's Volleyball programs, as compared to the more than 300 women's programs and the 252 football programs. Why is men's volleyball not given the same attention that sports like football receive from the general population?
On many occasions, I have heard people say volleyball is a "girl's sport" as a way of insulting men who play the sport. I can't begin to understand why a "girl's sport" has a negative connotation, and I do not see any way in which this comment detracts from the value of the sport. Though it is more popular on the women's side, volleyball is a sport that should not be categorized by the sexes who play it. I have been a spectator at many women's games, and I have both played and watched men's volleyball. Similar to men's and women's basketball, the two versions of the sport are played slightly differently in terms of strategy, adding value to both and showing why the same value should be placed on men's volleyball that is already present in women's volleyball.
Despite the vibe that this new viral video gives off to the general public, headshots are actually a rarity in a game or practice situation, and are, therefore., celebrated (once it is clear that the other player is OK). Unlike football, head injuries are very infrequent and are, instead, replaced by more danger to the ankles from rolling balls and the shoulders from the swinging motion. Every sport has its risks, though, and in the new era of concussion studies, volleyball is comparatively much more safe than many others.
What it lacks in head injuries, volleyball makes up for in constant energy and excitement. Breaks occur between points but are usually quite short, and the play in between is always high-paced and hard to keep up with. Many new spectators have to spend some time to learn the rules and intricacies of volleyball before they can truly understand the sport. This could act as a deterrent, but women's volleyball is frequently on TV, and the rules are nearly identical, so what is it about men's volleyball that keeps it out of the spotlight?
Monmouth men's basketball's bench has recently come into the spotlight for their hilarious cheers and unmatched excitement. However, in my experience with high school volleyball, this was a common theme with nearly every team we played. We had a different cheer for every occurrence, allowing for a strong positive atmosphere that definitely left some room for some trash talking in the more serious games. The win-by-two rule often leads to games that go to more than 30 points, even though the actual score is supposed to end at 25. In games like this, each point is a nail-biter and it is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my time playing sports. Overall, being part of the gym atmosphere during an intense volleyball match can become as intense as any sport I've ever seen played, and I'm an avid sports fan.
I would not be here, at Princeton University, today if it were not for volleyball. The alumnus who interviewed me got in contact with the coach for me, as I didn't feel that I had the talent to play Division I volleyball. Coach Sam Shweisky gave me an opportunity, though, by writing a letter to admissions that he swears did not play a factor in my admissions. However, I still got in, and though I had to sacrifice my volleyball career in order to keep up with academics, I am still thankful for the time I got to spend on the team and the academic opportunity that was given to me by this not-so-popular sport. I bring up this anecdote because my goal is for more people to have opportunities like this. One more popular sport could only increase the number of opportunities for young kids who may not have the grades to get into the school they want to get into, so why not get men's volleyball on the map?
