WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Boys volleyball is serving up history in Tennessee, with one team in Wilson County already bringing home two state titles. Now, there’s a push to make the fast-growing sport official.

At Green Hill High School in Wilson County, college coaches from D1 to D3 are on the floor, running a skills camp, and scouting for Tennessee’s next big high school sport.

“I think if you put a volleyball in a boy's hand, he falls in love with the sport. It's just, it's just granting them the exposure to the game. I don't think I've met a kid yet who played volleyball and didn't think it was fun," said Tracy Stevens, founder of the Tennessee Boys Volleyball Association.

College programs say the growth is measurable.

Glenn DeHaven, head men’s volleyball coach at Juniata College, said, "I think we are the only NCAA sport ever to grow by 10% in one year that already sponsors an NCAA championship."

But to make it official here in Tennessee, teams are pushing for sanctioning — the green light that brings boys volleyball under the state’s umbrella and expands schedules statewide.

“We need, I think, 30 more schools to either be part of that or to sign on before we're sanctioning in Tennessee," said Tim Edson, head coach at Jonathan Edwards Classical Academy and TBVA board member. "If we can do it in a small school of 50 high schoolers, then these big public schools can do it."

Part of the appeal? Schools can launch with what they already have: a gym and a net. This makes the sport more accessible than travel-heavy and sometimes expensive club ball.

"I feel like starting it in schools is like the best way to go, because not every, not every club is free, and, you know, since it's free, it just makes it so much more available to everyone," said Jacob Abbott, a junior at Green Hill High School.

For some, that chance becomes a runway to the next level.

“I was doing a couple different sports here too, and I didn't feel like I was doing great in those until I started doing volleyball," said Mason Bryan, a Cumberland signee. "I started my junior year two years ago, and now I'm going to college for it. I'm pretty surprised how it turned out."

And now with help from the Kevin Pratt Foundation, camp fees and club costs aren’t always the barrier.

"I've used volleyball as a vehicle to go to college. And it's time to pay it forward now," said Kevin Pratt, the foundation's founder.

Lucas Waller, state MVP and Kevin Pratt Foundation scholarship recipient said, “In Tennessee at least, the way I see it, is getting people to realize this is a real sport, and this is happening and getting our ADs to realize we need to sanction this because so many boys are having so much fun playing volleyball."

Two state titles in, Wilson County is proving it. Organizers have said if your school wants in, they will help you start.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/growing-the-game-boys-volleyball-gains-traction-in-tennessee/