Boys' volleyball supporters in Minnesota power on in wake of vote denying sanction

The disappointment, so crushing at the time, still lingers. Now, however, it's more motivational than dispiriting.

To most boys' volleyball supporters in the state, the Minnesota State High School League's rejection in May of their sport's attempt at league sanction only steeled their resolve.

The league Representative Assembly's vote on May 11, denying sanction for the widely supported bid by a mere three votes, hit supporters hard.

To many, those three votes felt like they spanned chasms. Walt Weaver, the hall of fame volleyball coach who had spearheaded the effort to sanction boys' volleyball, spoke in dejected tones in the aftermath.

"I don't know where we go from here," he said as the time. "I can't imagine what more we can do. It's very, very frustrating."

While the vote may have been the drag chute slowing down the momentum boys' volleyball had built, the sport kept going and churning ever forward.

Club teams representing more than 50 high schools and 100 varsity and junior varsity teams resumed their third season as if the vote had never happened. The Minnesota High School Boys' Volleyball League finished with a raucous, well-attended state tournament that drew about 1,000 fans. Interest among participants and fans never waned.

Denied admission as an official high school sport, boys' volleyball supporters and promoters remained determined to crash the party.

"At first, when it happened, it was so disappointing. But this," said Minnesota High School Boys' Volleyball Association Vice President Krista Flemming, pausing during the state championship match between Andover and Eden Prairie to let the loud, energetic crowd emphasize her point, "is why we do this. There's a lot of support. And the kids deserve it."

Flemming and association President Jenny Kilkelly combine to drive the boys' volleyball league. They do everything from developing schedules and securing gym access to finding officials to running the state tournament. They've done it together for four years – Flemming even coaches a team in the league – and have not taken a cent in remuneration.

"It's not easy. A lot of people don't know that I own a business, too," said Flemming, who, with her husband, Chad, owns and operates the Chaska Mill and Retreat Center. "This takes up a lot of time."

Not that she and Kilkelly are planning on stepping aside anytime soon. "We do it because we love it. We have so many kids come to us and thank us for doing this so they have a place to play," Flemming said.

Lindsey Weaver, Walt's daughter, has grown up around volleyball. She coached the Great River/Twin Cities Academy cooperative, consisting of two St. Paul area charter schools, this spring while in her third trimester of pregnancy. It was the passion she saw in her players, many of whom are of Asian descent, that drove her.

"So many of these players grew up in families and communities for which volleyball is an important part of their identity," she said. "I saw how important of an instrument volleyball was to these boys, most of whom don't play another sport. It was disappointing because it meant the MSHSL is not yet behind them, yet we were still saying 'You're not alone' and they know we're still behind them."

Five of her players sat together around a table in the lobby at Shakopee High School, where the state tournament was being held, waiting for the championship match to begin. They had just won the consolation title, and talked about their dream to see boys' volleyball become official.

"It's important to us," said senior Jonathan Lor, an all-tournament selection. "It means it's important to them, too."

Volleyball association members met with high school league officials and others last week, trying to get a read on what the sticking points were and what's next for their proposal. Getting another vote next year is far from a sure thing.

The high school league, while empathetic to their goal, said they will have to start the process over. That means once again getting approval from a majority of the state's 16 regions to get it brought before the representative assembly for a vote.

"We are asking for their help. Whether they are willing to collaborate or not will remain to be seen," Kilkelly said in an email.

A significant issue yet to be resolved is the time of year for playing the sport. The proposal to the high school league asked for boys' volleyball to be a spring sport, when coaches and official are available and many high school gyms sit largely unused. Many athletic directors disagreed, knowing how important gym space is for other spring sports.

The cost of adding another sport is also a factor. "But just because it's approved doesn't mean you have to offer it," Lindsey Weaver said.

Members of the boys' volleyball community refuse to be deterred. In their minds, it's not "if" but "when" they'll win league approval.

Andover girls' volleyball coach Connie Huberty also is the coordinator of the boys' program at the school. She's confident that the interest she sees in the sport will eventually lead to the sport's acceptance.

"We're holding out hope," she said after the finals, won by Andover in four sets. "As long as this is happening, something's got to give."

Added Kilkelly, "It's a daunting task but we need to do it for the hundreds of boys that have fallen in love with this sport. To us, it is a no-brainer.''