Of the twenty storied and celebrated Division I varsity sports teams that Fairfield University prides itself on, there is a missing sport that the campus community has been silently yearning for: men’s volleyball. For a sport that holds such high esteem among high school athletics, the switch to life without volleyball in college can be jarring, leaving athletes itching for more competition.
Thankfully, the Stags who excel on the court have opted to compete via club volleyball. Currently in the New England Collegiate Volleyball League, the men’s club volleyball team has completed its journey to Regionals this past weekend, booking a ticket to the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Championships in Kansas City, Mo. A three-day tournament featuring over 800 teams, the Stags find out their first pool of opponents today out of the 58 other teams in the Men’s Division II AA classification.
For a club team, a typical season has its similarities and differences from traditional Division I NCAA programs. The club volleyball season features a preseason of two tournaments, then a regular season that ramps up from tournaments to nationals. For the Stags, a fresh, 14-man roster has propelled them to the national stage for the first time in 20 years. Consisting of seven seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and three first-years, the spirits among the Stags are high as ever as they prepare for their national appearance.
“Our dynamic is pretty good, especially between the younger class,” sophomore right-side hitter Grayson Kamadeu said. “Outside of volleyball, I think it’s great, everyone is cool with each other.”
In terms of commitment, club volleyball is less of a burden compared to its Division I counterparts. Regular practices for the Stags are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. “If you’re doing club sports, you still have that ‘student athlete’ title, but it’s not as pressure-heavy, and it’s also a little more chill,” noted first-year libero Rolando Cruz.
“We pick up more practices than that,” sophomore outside hitter David Silberger said. “We’ve played in front of the library before, we’ve played in the arena before.”
Another interesting aspect of club sports lies within the team leadership. This year’s men’s volleyball team features an executive board of seven players who take on additional roles, such as Silberger. As the club treasurer, he coordinates club finances and fundraisers to pay for trips to tournaments and equipment.
There is also an underclassmen representative position, currently filled by Kamadeu, who is entrusted with advocating for underclassmen’s needs on the team that may arise.
“It’s kind of giving them a fresh family, forming a safe space,’ Kamadeu noted.
Cruz recalled his feelings about stepping away from volleyball after graduating, “I didn’t want to play volleyball in college, but club volleyball gave me the opportunity to still [play] competitively.”
When asked about his initial feelings when joining the team, Cruz immediately opted to shout out teammates who have helped him with the transition.
“Shout out [Anthony D’urso] and Finn Lacy, our fearless leader.” D’urso, a senior outside hitter, acts as the club’s social media chair. Lacy, a senior right-side hitter, is the club’s president.
After ranking sixth out of ten teams overall during the NECVF regional tournament, the Stags are adamant about building momentum for a historic run at nationals. “We’re just getting started,” Cruz said.
While the tournament will be the final dance for the seniors, the underclassmen seem hopeful about the future of the program. “Are we worried about [the seniors leaving]? Honestly, no,” Silberger said. “We have a very strong class, I think we’re ready.”
