Student-athletes hopeful MSHSL will sanction boys volleyball as high school sport

At Roseville Area High School, the boys club volleyball team practices after class Thursday.

This team is 3-1 on the season, but they’re heading into one of their biggest battles yet.

Currently, boys volleyball is not a sanctioned sport under the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). But a vote on Tuesday could change that.

"More than anything I think that would just be awesome all around for the whole state," said Sam Stuart, a junior who plays volleyball. "I think it would bring an amazing amount of representation to the sports."

High school boy’s volleyball is growing in interest, according to the Minnesota Boys High School Volleyball Association. Currently, there are 41 schools across the state fielding 70 teams with hundreds of players.

Roseville senior Jordan Seifriz started playing as a freshman.

"It grows every single year I’ve played," he said. "There’s been more and more teams and players from everywhere."

The teams that are forming are also very diverse. Advocates say more than a third of the players this spring are students of color.

Roseville senior Pengsu Thao says for the Hmong population, volleyball is part of the culture.

"I think that it opens up more opportunities for the Asian community, female or male, and it also opens up opportunities for colleges," Thao said.

Roseville assistant coach Carly Miller says volleyball gives her players an opportunity to be connected to their school community.

"I think the best thing about it is this is a chance for them to be a team together, for them to come together, have a chance for people with diverse backgrounds to get to know one another," Miller said.

While she’s focused on their upcoming games, she can’t help but keep the vote in the back of her mind.

"The excitement of what they could be a part of, the excitement of what this could end up becoming and just really the title match in what I believe is already such a solid important sport would be great," Miller said. "So I’m hoping that we can make this happen."

The MSHSL will vote on May 11 whether to sanction the sport.