With all the rightful attention that both Cal Poly’s varsity volleyball teams, indoor and beach, have received over the last year, a portion of their success can be attributed to a team that is not affiliated with the NCAA: Cal Poly Men’s Club Volleyball.
Several members of the men’s club team serve as practice players for both the beach and indoor teams, both in season and during the off-season. The teams not only train together but maintain a good relationship off the court, fostering a connection built on mutual respect.
The girls’ practices can run for up to three hours, often starting early in the morning. On some days, that is just one of two practices the men’s club players attend as they balance a commitment to the club team.
Still, getting extra practice and contributing to two successful programs is viewed as a large benefit.
The relationship between men’s club volleyball and the two varsity teams goes far beyond the court, with shared time on the court strengthening that bond.
The teams have established a mutual support system and a bond outside of the white lines, often socializing together on the weekends. This deeper connection enhances the synergy between varsity and men’s clubs during practice.
“I think we have an awesome relationship with the club team and our team,” sophomore Ella Scott said. “They’re at our games, and we go to their games, make posters, cheer them on.”
Scott, a libero/defensive specialist for the indoor team, is thankful for the work that the practice players put in.
“They come in every day, they make us all better,” Scott said. “We appreciate it a lot.”
That appreciation is shown in the aforementioned mutual support that each team shows each other.
Freshman Elif Hurriyet, also a libero/defensive specialist, emphasizes this special relationship.
“As a team they support us and as a team we support them,” Hurriyet said. “It’s a good support [system].”
Sophomore Luke Walker has been an indoor practice player throughout his time at Cal Poly.
“Some of the older guys have done it for a while, and they told me about it,” Walker said. “It’s a good opportunity to play with people and just get extra reps, and also help the program out.”
In recent years, men have become increasingly prevalent as practice players for women’s teams, with UConn Women’s Basketball as a popular example. For Walker, dedication to the team is fulfilling when he knows his work does not go to waste.
“The most rewarding part [of this role is] probably seeing them be really successful, especially this season,” Walker said.
Last season, Cal Poly Beach Volleyball finished the year as the No. 5 ranked team in the country. Cal Poly Indoor Volleyball also finished first in the Big West standings and appeared in the Big West Championship Game.
The reason that a portion of success for both teams can be attributed to the practice players is due to the different speed and athleticism that the men present.
Redshirt junior Ella Connor, one of the nation’s best beach volleyball players, understands the men’s impact on practices.
“I think it’s a really great experience because they are able to hit a lot harder than a lot of the girls do,” Connor said. “We can have that intensity and that pace, a lot of them know the game, and they’re skilled.”
Ella’s brother, Luca Connor, is also a skilled volleyball player and assists his sister’s team during practices. Growing up in Maui, Hawai’i, the siblings have been playing together since a young age and have a strong bond both on and off the court.
“It’s pretty comfortable having him out here, and we just have a great relationship so it’s super fun,” Ella said. “I like to tease him when I’m out on the court.”
The women’s team isn’t the only one improving; practice players are also refining their skills, making it a mutually beneficial setup. Due to the different styles of play at women’s practices, one that emphasizes ball control and rhythm, new challenges are proposed for the club team members.
“It’s tough to play against these guys because they’re a lot more mental, they think about the game a lot more,” Luca said. “I really have to focus up.”
On-court abilities aren’t the only skills being enhanced, a certain intangible ability also gets tested: the art of talking smack.
Practice players create a competitive, sometimes even playfully hostile, environment that fuels intensity and prepares the athletes for whatever may be said during the heat of competition.
“They like to [talk smack], and so they’ll come out and they’ll do that to us,” Ella Connor said. “It’s nothing new when we hear it outside of this, because some teams are actually pretty mean.”
Even when practice gets competitive, the three clubs remain in good standing.
While Cal Poly Men’s Club Volleyball may not receive the same level of recognition as their varsity counterparts, the impact they have on both varsity volleyball teams is echoed by each athlete involved, resulting in a special bond with the people who help behind the scenes.