Boys volleyball sees early support, success

Though boys volleyball has been a club sport option for the past few years, 2025 marks the sport's inaugural year as a fully sanctioned athletic option through the Minnesota State High School League. 

Park Center Senior High School

At Park Center Senior High School (PCSH), head coach Michelle Chen said the program began its first official year as one of a minority of schools who could field five teams right at the outset. Nearly 80 students tried out for the team this year, and around 50 earned a spot. 

Chen also led the team while it was at the club level, and she has coached boys volleyball for over 10 years. 

“Boys volleyball has always been my passion because of my son, who started playing as a five year old,” Chen said. “We’ve been trying to push for this opportunity for over 10 years.”

Her son, now an adult, graduated from PCSH without being able to play for the school, though he helped out with the girls program and now serves as a boys assistant coach. In fact, Chen said that the entire coaching staff besides one are Park Center graduates.

Today, PCSH boys fill the school gymnasium for after-school practices, and their love of the sport shines through in their laughter, enthusiasm and camaraderie. Chen said it’s been especially great to offer this opportunity at PCSH since volleyball is a popular sport within the Hmong community, and the school has a large Hmong population.

“These boys are so passionate about being able to play for their school,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to be involved and feel that school pride. We’ve gotten so much buy-in here and the program is just exploding - I can’t get them off the court. They keep asking to practice more.”

Maple Grove Senior High School

At Maple Grove Senior High School, the first season of boys volleyball as an officially recognized sport includes three teams: varsity, JV and B-squad, with the varsity team being led by head coach Jamison Gray. 

Seniors Grady Reitmeier and Max Miley and sophomore Ryan Patten serve as the captains of the teams this year, serving as leaders on and off the court. 

“I think [boys volleyball being recognized] shows the amount of dedication and work we put in. It allows us to expand as a club and shows how many boys want to play the sport,” said Patten, who has been playing volleyball for four years.

The season is off to a great start for the MGSH boys volleyball team. In front of family, friends and community members, the Crimson won their first home game they hosted as an official MSHSL-sanctioned team. 

 “We are getting a lot of energy at the games, with a lot of new fans and a lot of hype all around the state for boys volleyball that hasn’t been there in previous years,” Reitmeier, who has been playing volleyball for two years, added. 

Osseo Senior High School

At Osseo Senior High School, they also have three teams for the first year of boys volleyball, a varsity, JV and B-squad team. Jackson Hardy and Mikey Williams, two seniors on the team, were excited when they heard that it would no longer be just a club but an official sport. The team is led by head coach Stephen Perkins. 

Hardy, who has been playing since sophomore year, said that he appreciates an opportunity for boys volleyball players that hasn’t always existed in the past. Williams is playing for the very first time this year, and has enjoyed the opportunity. 

“Last year, I would see the players playing after my basketball practice, and I was interested in joining the team. Coach Rachel has been telling me I should play for the last two or three years, and I was so excited to play this year, especially because it is an official sport and not just a club,” Williams said. 

The teams are made up of students from every grade level, with varsity mostly consisting of juniors and seniors. 

“I think it is so cool that everyone gets this opportunity to play with a wide range of skill levels,” Hardy said. “I am proud of everyone and how we have done in these first few games, and I am excited to see how the rest of the season goes.”