The Simpson men’s volleyball program has moved from varsity to club status. The announcement was made during a meeting Nov. 17, and reshapes the team’s competitive future, leaving athletes adjusting to the changes.
The program had struggled from the beginning because they were unable to join a conference due to their inability to meet the minimum roster requirements. The program has also been under review with no improvement in the competitiveness or their ability to retain numbers and grow the roster.
Junior Ignacio Aguado mentioned these problems created a cycle which ultimately led to the decision to end the varsity program.
“With such a small team, entering a conference wasn’t possible, and without conference membership, recruiting new players became extremely difficult,” Aguado said.
Junior Joseph Wollum was both surprised and upset for his teammates who traveled across the world to play volleyball at Simpson, like Aguado who came to Simpson from Spain.
“They wanted to look out for us as athletes and people, trying to avoid overuse injuries, as we have some players who have joined who haven’t played volleyball before,” Wollum said.
Many players decided to transfer from Simpson after the announcement. Their departures have left the roster close to empty, showing how the decision has reshaped the program’s future.
“At first, I felt overwhelmed because one of the main reasons I came to the United States was to play volleyball,” Aguado said. “The announcement immediately made me reconsider my possible alternatives.”
The transition has been difficult for many of the players, especially those who came to Simpson to play volleyball. Trying to adjust to the changes, plan their next steps and understand what the future looks like has made the situation challenging for them.
As of right now, Wollum has taken charge of the men’s volleyball club. Simpson is seeking a new assistant women’s volleyball coach, who will also serve as the men’s volleyball club team faculty advisor.
“The hardest part for me was to try and figure out what to do next for my teammates to still give them an opportunity to play,” Wollum said.
The future of the team remains uncertain because there has been no clear plan for attracting new players. Without incoming players, they will face challenges in maintaining the team’s future.
Despite the difficulties of this decision, the players hope the sport will continue to have a presence. Their priority now is to ensure the remaining players will still have access to opportunities to stay connected to the game.
