From tradition to collegiate courts

Only three years ago, a group of guys met playing volleyball outside of Tradition Hall. Now, the men’s club volleyball team plays some of the best teams in the country.

While some men from the original group have gone on to do other activities, such as Division I track and field, many of the players are still on the team today. Despite having different interests, they all shared a love for volleyball.

In their first tournament ever, Coastal Carolina University’s A team placed
second in the silver bracket with wins against both Appalachian State University
and Duke University.

“My favorite memory of club volleyball is probably beating App State in three sets at [James Madison University],” co-president Gavin Berardi said.

The team has come a long way from their creation. Men’s club volleyball is currently in their league season where they play a variety of other teams at the collegiate level. After the league season, they compete in tournaments which are a set of round robin games to determine their placement in the playoffs that follow.

Michael Audi is the co-president of men’s club volleyball and was a part of the original team when it started in 2020 during his freshman year. Audi has played both the outside and libero position throughout his volleyball career.

“Tournaments also always provide the team with our greatest and funniest memories, whether it be a big win or an inside joke that never stops getting mentioned,” Audi said.

Last weekend, the team traveled to Virginia to play against multiple schools. The players were excited about the opportunity to travel out of state and represent Coastal.

CCU’s B team got their first win of the league season against University of Richmond. Additionally, they competed against the league leader, Virginia Tech B.

Although the team enjoys challenging themselves and pulling off big wins, they also value building connections with other teammates.

“My favorite part about being on the team is the personalities of everyone there,”
Audi said. “We all hang out with each other enough that there is just a certain energy that we all share, while also having our unique qualities that shine through.”

Students who enjoy volleyball are encouraged by the co-presidents to try out for the team even if they have little experience with the sport. People who try out are judged based on not only their skills, but also their attitude and coachability. Students who are interested in trying out for the team can email [email protected] or [email protected].