BATTLE CREEK -The boys have been invited to take the court.
Boys volleyball will become an official high school varsity sport in Michigan beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
The Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association approved the addition of boys volleyball to the lineup of MHSAA-sponsored tournament sports late last week.
"That was great news," said Calhoun Christian coach Cory Williams, who has led a co-op team in Battle Creek involving several of the city schools, that played in a state-wide club league, for the past four years. "I think the news will spark growth in the sport. You will see more teams up north, who haven't jumped on board yet, to really start to buy in. And, you will see some of the larger schools, who haven't supported boys volleyball quite yet, start to get on board.
"It will be great for the boys who are looking for another spring sport. I think it will spark post high school opportunities for kids who want to play beyond high school as well."
Starting in 2025-26, boys volleyball and girls field hockey will join the roster of sports sponsored by the MHSAA. Boys volleyball will be held in the spring. It will be the first two sports added to the MHSAA tournament schedule since girls and boys lacrosse joined the lineup during the 2004-25 school year.
As part of the Michigan Boys Volleyball League, districts were held in town this week, involving several area club teams. The Battle Creek Central/Lakeview co-op team competed in a Division 1 district at Battle Creek Central High School. In Division 2 district action at St. Philip, the Calhoun Christian/St. Philip co-op competed against Battle Creek Academy. Gull Lake also had a team involved in that district.
"We have seen continued growth in the sport in the past few years, which is why I think you are seeing something like this happen," Williams said. "Last year, we at Calhoun Christian had a co-op with St. Philip, Harper Creek and Gull Lake. This year, because that co-op sparked some growth here, we saw Gull Lake split off and create their own team. Gull Lake had enough boys and support from the school to make that happen and they had a full season. Harper Creek almost did the same. They had a willing coach. Just not quite enough boys to come out for the team. But I suspect, after this news, you will see Harper Creek have a full team next year."
This year, the Calhoun Christian co-op still included athletes from St. Philip and Harper Creek as well as Olivet. The Battle Creek Central/Lakeview co-op remains strong and growing and Battle Creek Academy formed a program.
Volleyball has long been one of the more popular sports in Battle Creek, with the state finals in town and one of the most productive programs in the state calling it home in St. Philip - which has won a state-record 22 state titles in girls volleyball.
"It's really exciting that boys volleyball is being added. We have seen the last couple of years on the club scene how boys volleyball has been growing," said longtime St. Philip volleyball coach Vicky Groat, who noted that four St. Philip male athletes are currently playing club volleyball.
Groat has been around volleyball her entire life, playing for her mom Sheila Guerra, who was a pioneer and a hall of famer in high school volleyball when she coached at St. Philip.
"My mom used to coach boys volleyball in the summer back in the day, even though it wasn't a high school sport, and Kellogg Community College had men's volleyball back in the day, so it has kinda come full circle," Groat said. "I see a bright future for boys volleyball in our state. Just watching our kids, the boys really get into it. Currently, we are hosting the districts here in town and there's some good volleyball and some not-so good volleyball. but everyone is having fun playing. We made the announcement during the match that it is going to be an MHSAA sport and there was a lot of applause. So, I'm happy for the boys that they will get this chance."
Williams was a bit surprised the MHSAA made the announcement this year.
"We had a meeting with the league, just a week prior to the districts, and we heard it wasn't looking good for something like this," Williams said. "So to hear them vote in favor of adopting it, it was a surprise, but it was great.
"The kids that are going to graduate this year or next year, are going to miss out on the opportunity to play in that officially-sanctioned tournament. But they will know they helped start something. And it is good news for the future players as I'm sure we will see a lot of growth throughout the state because it will be an official MHSAA sport."
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
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