The women-to-men ratio for volleyball in the US is 78.1% to 21.9%.

In Iowa, many girls who play high school volleyball also play for a club team in the off-season. However, currently, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has not sanctioned boy’s volleyball at the high school level. This forces boys who want to play volleyball in high school to seek out club teams.

Tony Pawlosky, a student at ADM, has been playing volleyball on club teams for 5 years. Pawlosky said he started playing volleyball when he was younger in PE and grew an interest in the sport as the years went on. He started playing for a well-known club team, Ohana, at 13. This club team is based in Des Moines and is convenient for young volleyball players in central Iowa. As the years went on Pawlosky progressed in his volleyball career. He traveled for tournaments and gained experience while playing for a club team.

When Pawlosky was asked how he was affected by the overlook from school-sanctioned sports, he said, “It made it hard at first, but it also allowed me to play with national select players.” He now plays for a team based in Lincoln, Nebraska: the “High Flyers.” He explained that this team was easier to come into as they already have a strong program built. This team allows Pawlosky to experience high-level volleyball by traveling around the country to play in tournaments with a team he loves. Even with obstacles such as scheduling and traveling, Pawlosky shows that without a boys high school volleyball team, it is still possible to excel in a sport you love.