BOYS VOLLEYBALL IS EXPANDING IN MIDDLE GEORGIA
April 2019, Veterans vs St. Pius X
The referee blows his whistle calling for the volleyball game to start. The ball is set in the air, the blocks are up, and in seconds the set is over. How is this? This is because it isn’t just an ordinary volleyball game, this is a game of men’s volleyball.
The exciting game has been in the area for a little while, however it has been living in the shadows. Not many people know about mens and boys volleyball, but with the opportunity to watch and play the sport comes the growth.
CGVA U18 Boys Team
Boys volleyball began growing with CGVA Volleyball Boys volleyball began growing with CGVA Volleyball (which no longer has a team) started by Coach Marlene Rogers.
Later, in 2016, Coach Rogers created the first in-school boys volleyball team in Middle GA. The Veterans High School boys volleyball club team began in 2016. This team grew tremendously throughout the years, but it wasn’t until 2019 when the sport really began to break out. This team was full of senior boys who had started playing together from 2016 as freshman.
In 2019, the team went undefeated in the regular season, winning the Rockdale Pre-Season tournament, until falling to Chattahoochee at 3rd place in the GVCA State Tournament.
(Pictured 2019 Senior and Alumni Night)
This year was the first time a Veterans boys volleyball player signed to play at the collegiate level. Cam Garrett and Chase Cross were the first players out of Middle GA, from the same school, to sign mens volleyball scholarships together. These two signed with Reinhardt University to play for their inaugural season (see this article for more info).
Chase Cross and Cam Garrett sign their letters of intent with Reinhardt University.
(Sitting, Chase Cross on the left, Cam Garrett on the right, surrounded by the rest of the 2019 Veterans Boys team)
Veterans would continue to be the only boys volleyball team in Middle GA until 2021, when Coach Marlene Rogers created Wartown Volleyball, a hybrid boys volleyball team (check this sportsmic article for more on Wartown). This year, Veterans High School couldn’t have a volleyball team (due to COVID-19 reasons), but Rogers didn’t give up there. This team included players from Veterans High School, Northside, and home schoolers as well. Without the luxury of having a school representing her team, she had to find gyms from all around. Wartown practiced at different churches, Windsor Academy, and later at the North Houston Recreation Facility. In May they placed 2nd at the A5 Belligerent Boys Tournament and 3rd at State.
5 May 2021// Wartown at A5 Tournament
This team finally broke the barrier and sparked interest all over. By creating Wartown, Rogers finally gave boys from all different places the opportunity to try boys volleyball. Now, several teams are starting all over. Houston County High is beginning a team, Northside is attempting to create a team, Veterans High will also attempt create a new team (after taking a year off of having one), and other schools may as well. It is uncertain if there will be a boys travel team in Middle Georgia, but hopefully one will soon will begin again.
Boys volleyball is not yet a GHSA approved team, but with enough interest, might be accepted in the next few years.
For more information on boys volleyball check out Boys Volleyball of Georgia.
