We trade life updates for bold calls, then break down who wins men’s college volleyball and why. Awards, freshmen to watch, coaching philosophies, officiating shifts, and the growth of the sport all get a clear, candid look.

• Title picks for UCLA, USC and Stanford with reasons
• Player of the year cases for Andrew Rowan, Dillon Klein and Jaylen Phillips
• Freshman standouts including UCI’s French pipeline and Sosa
• Coach of the year criteria and nods to Kniffin, Winder and Pavlik
• Technical trends like the two-handed recycle and no-double setting
• Juniors officiating contrasts with college play on lifts and throws
• NIL gravity and the squeeze on high-academic programs
• Program expansion logic at smaller private schools

The headline is big, but the backstory is bigger: Pacific is bringing back men’s volleyball, and we walk through how it actually happened—step by step, meeting by meeting, and milestone by milestone. From the first conversations with President Callahan to the detailed planning with Athletic Director Adam, we saw how patient leadership, alumni persistence, and the right partners turned a long shot into a green light.

We dig into the mechanics behind the moment: why First Point Volleyball Foundation’s involvement mattered, what conference alignment with the MPSF looks like, and how budgets, scholarships, and staffing were mapped before the announcement. Beyond logistics, we explore a core belief that shaped this comeback: men’s and women’s volleyball are stronger together. Cut one and you weaken the culture; invest in both and you raise the floor and the ceiling—better recruiting, bigger crowds, and a campus identity people want to be part of.

There’s also a candid look at the enrollment strategy driving decisions at private universities. Men’s volleyball can bring in domestic and international students, boost retention, and anchor community engagement. With that context, we talk about the head coach archetype that fits this moment—a builder who can recruit at speed, fundraise with credibility, and set a standard from day one. Expect some names, some laughs, and a bold attendance line for the home opener that dares Stockton to show up loud.

We’re proud, we’re relieved, and we’re ready to help this program thrive. If you want more schools to follow Pacific’s lead, share this with an AD or president who needs a playbook. Subscribe, rate, and pass it along to a volleyball friend—then tell us your pick to lead the Tigers and your over/under for opening night.

We recap a whirlwind women’s volleyball weekend, break down Stanford vs Louisville with real tactical detail, and lay out a case for mandatory mid-major conference tournaments. We also explain how Bay to Bay chartered flights to save families money and why “grow the game” needs to retire.

• Stanford vs Louisville as a gritty benchmark for the 4–10 tier
• Louisville setter as the match’s key differentiator
• Stanford stronger in the middle, Louisville deeper at the pins
• Santa Clara–Pepperdine detour and a St. Mary’s “volleyball rehab” vibe
• Packed gym energy and what real community looks like
• Why mid-major conferences should host a top-six tournament
• Keeping teams alive longer, creating late-season stakes
• A rebuttal to “best representative” fears with best-of-five logic
• Retiring “grow the game” in favor of confident, concrete action
• AVCA convention curation vs salesy sessions, and open debate
• How Matt chartered planes and broke the internet with AI
• AI mockups, virality, and clear messaging around real logistics
• Building The Grape Man event from 10 to 100 teams