Rams Volleyball Club serves fresh talent, looks to future

Photo by Brit Raley
Abram Cantu sets the ball for his teammate during a drill in practice.

After a decrease in men that played volleyball, the Ram’s Volleyball Club is back and better than ever.

"The club was revitalized in the Fall of 2016 and has no looks of fading away anytime soon as we now have high school seniors that play competitively looking to join our program," Jeremy Curtis, club advisor, said.

Ram Volleyball now has the opportunity to play competitively.

"The club was put together so that men could compete at a high level in volleyball," Curtis said. "In the beginning, that was what was driving us as a club, but as our season came to an end ,we have realized this club is so much more."

Although forming a men’s volleyball club is not as recognized as women’s volleyball, this club is already leaving their mark.

"Currently, the club just competed in the SIVA Conference Championships placing 13th in the region out of 27 teams," Curtis said. "Though the regular season is officially over, we are now in the works of scheduling a home match so that we can gain recognition on campus."

Just like any other club, this is a good way to create friendships and to get involved in campus life.

"I love this club because it’s allowed me to form some great friendships with different students on campus," freshman Mario DeHoyos said. "It’s helped me meet people from all around Texas and beyond who have the same passion of volleyball as I do."

The Ram Volleyball Club is a club that DeHoyos can see himself being in for the rest of his college life.

"I definitely plan to be a part of this team throughout my college life," DeHoyos said. "Aside from my education, it is my top priority."

However, for senior Skyler Witt, he was only able to enjoy one season.

"If I had to narrow it down to one single memory, I was setting in our second tournament, and I threw the ball down to the center of the court and scored a point and got super hyped, like ridiculously-jumping, fist-pumping hyped, and I turned around and the rest of the team wasn’t really excited they were just laughing at me going so crazy over something like that," Witt said.

For him, he will miss the friendships that were turned into a brotherhood over the course of competing in ten tournaments, but he leaves advice to upcoming freshman.

"Do it," Witt said. "This club team is going to be very successful in the future and they WANT to teach you how to play. They have a love for volleyball that they want to share with others. So just come eager to learn and play. If you give them your best effort they will make you a good volleyball player."

To become a member, it is $150, which can be paid in 3 installments of $50 over the fall semester.

"Guys should join our team because it is a new organization that is paving the way for future success," Curtis said. "It is more than just an organization or club; it is a great way to make new friends, learn more about an uncommon sport, and also compete at a high level while representing Angelo State University."