Volleyball program one of a kind

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (WLFI) - Lafayette Jefferson High School's Gail Gripe has contributed so much to the volleyball community in Tippecanoe county. One major contribution came a couple decades ago, when she helped start a boys volleyball team.

Not often do you hear of boys getting the opportunity to play volleyball at the high school level. But at Lafayette Jeff, that's exactly what is taking place.

Since the late 1980s Gail Gripe helped form a club that would allow boys a chance to play volleyball. It has been a huge success, so much so that in 1998 they won the national title.

"It's a wonderful opportunity, these kids are connecting to their school and they are going around playing against other schools and this program has been here for a long time and we have had a lot of boys that have went through here that are still playing, its just great for them," said head coach Gail Gripe.

Eighteen boys make up this year's team. They enjoy practicing and having an opportunity to be a part of the team. It's almost like a family to many of them.

"It's really exciting and really intense and some people don't have anything and this is all I have, they make me feel at home and like they are my second family," said sophomore Theron Tate.

The biggest hope that Gail and this team have is that more high schools will join in and allow other boys to compete in volleyball at the high school level.

"I would love for other schools to get it going because the guys would love it and its also good for other athletes that play other sports. But its a connection here," said head coach Gail Gripe.

"It's a fun sport and you can learn a lot from it and I think that all schools should have it and it can be a popular sport," said junior Jeffrey Reed.

The team will return to action on Thursday at Indianapolis Lurtheran. Senior night will be May 12 at 6:00 p.m.