Set for Success: The Spike Boys – A Boys Volleyball Team Becomes East Affiliated

Senior Tyler Kirchhoff had prepared for the worst: the boys volleyball team not getting another season. After their first official season in 2022, Kirchhoff was determined to keep the team going this spring. But nothing was guaranteed, and he didn’t even know if people would show up for tryouts.

But a pleasant surprise awaited him. 14 students arrived to try out for the team — a far better outcome than the eight players who showed up last year.

The team was created last year by then-senior Noah Gould to meet the creativity, activity and service hour requirements for IB Diploma candidates by leading and organizing team activities. This year, Kirchhoff took on Gould’s duties as team captain, to continue the team so he and his friends could keep playing the sport they all enjoy.

As boys volleyball is not an officially approved sport by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, the team joined the Heart of America KC Boys Volleyball League.

Kirchhoff believes this year will see improvements including more accessible practice locations and a decline in player fees.

“[Last year’s returning players] all agreed that we did a poor job last year,” Kirchhoff said. “Now we’ll work together to make sure this club continues even after [the seniors] leave this year.”

With little experience playing volleyball outside of eighth grade gym glass, sophomore Jaxson Terreros was convinced by his friend Nick Martini to join.

Terreros was impressed with Kirchhoff’s leadership, the low stakes culture of the club and the support he got from the seniors.

“The [seniors] are like freak athletes compared to me,” Terros said. “But the first time I met Tyler, he was coming to our first meeting with bagels for everyone, putting in the time and effort to set this club up on his own.”

This year, Kirchhoff registered the team as an official East Club, proving a cost-cutting benefit they lacked access to last year like free use of the East gym for practices.
But even with a free practice space, without KSHSAA approval, the team has no funding for other expenses. Now, new players will have required fees to play.

This year’s participation fee will be $200 dollars for new players, and $110 for returning seniors — much cheaper than last year according to Kirchhoff. This helps pay for league fees, uniforms, equipment and other expenses.

However, there are drawbacks to the team’s new club status. According to Kirchhoff, the club isn’t prioritized compared to approved school sports.

“For example, if track gets rained out one day and they can’t use the field for practice, we get kicked out of the gym so they can run,” Kirchhoff said. “We’re just a club and they’re an actual sports team.”

With limited opportunities for practice before the season starts and only the five returning players with experience playing competitively, the team asked senior and varsity volleyball player Ava McDonald to help coach.

McDonald’s job as coach is to attend games and practices, set up drills and individually work with players while Kirchhoff handles the organizational components of running a club — emailing parents, coordinating with club sponsors and promoting the team’s tryouts and games.

“I don’t necessarily think of myself as a coach, but more of a friend,” McDonald said. “I’ve been playing volleyball with them for years, and over the last couple, I’ve seen them all really improve and I want to do my best to continue that trend.”

Senior and team member Roberto Galicia is excited to see how McDonald’s volleyball experience will add to her leadership.

“Ava is going to be running more practices as coach compared to last year’s [coaches],” Galicia said. “She’s gonna give us more drills and training exercises to help improve before our games.”

The goal for this year remains the same as last year: improvement.

“Winning games will always be fun,” McDonald said. “Watching everyone get better and take the program further each year will be great to see.”