A Bay Area Volleyball Marathon
If there was ever a weekend that captured the chaos, connection, and passion of volleyball culture — this was it.
Between Stanford vs. Louisville, Santa Clara vs. Pepperdine, and a surprise reunion at St. Mary’s, our crew basically lived and breathed volleyball for three straight days. “The only day we didn’t go watch a match,” Matt joked, “we stayed home and watched nine.”
And honestly? That sounds about right.
Stanford vs. Louisville: A Battle of Equals
The Stanford vs. Louisville match was everything you want from top-tier NCAA women’s volleyball — two powerhouses trading blows, packed stands, and plenty of storylines.
“Louisville’s setter was the biggest difference-maker,” Arielle said. “Their pins looked stronger overall, but Stanford’s middles held their own.”
It wasn’t the cleanest match technically, but it was gritty, passionate, and proof that NCAA women’s volleyball is stacked right now from the No. 4 through No. 10 ranks. Texas and Nebraska might be a tier above, but the rest? Dead even.
Volleyball Royalty in the Bay
Earlier in the weekend, the crew hit Santa Clara University, where the gym felt more like a reunion than a regular season match.
Kevin Wong, Lindsay Berg, Brian Cook, Taylor Crabb, Kristen Richards, Kelsey Robinson, Mike Dodd, and James Shaw’s family were all in attendance.
Arielle summed it up perfectly: “It felt like volleyball rehab — everyone just there, relaxed, breathing it in. It’s where high-level volleyball people go to reset.”
That same night, St. Mary’s broke its attendance record with 1,500 fans — a sign that the program’s rebuild under Tyler Hildebrand and Brian Cook is working.
The Mid-Major Debate: Why Conference Tournaments Matter
One of the weekend’s most interesting conversations came straight from Tyler Hildebrand himself.
He’s pushing for every mid-major conference to be required to host a postseason tournament.
And honestly? He might be right.
Without a conference tourney, mid-level teams can be out of contention by midseason. A six-team postseason format — like the Patriot League uses — keeps the dream alive.
“It gives more teams a reason to fight,” Arielle said. “You want to peak at the end of the year, not the middle.”
“It’s better for development and better for fans,” Matt added. “More meaningful matches. More momentum for the sport.”
Grow the Game Is Dead. Shrink It.
Volleyball doesn’t need saving anymore.
The “#GrowTheGame” era is over.
“People saying ‘grow the game’ are pitying the sport,” Arielle said. “It’s pick-me energy. Volleyball doesn’t need help — it’s already booming.”
Matt agreed: “We don’t need to grow the game. We need to own it. Stop acting like it’s a niche sport. It’s mainstream, and it’s ours.”
Their new mantra?
Shrink the Game.
Cut the noise. Raise the bar. Keep the passion.
Let excellence lead.
The AVCA Convention: Inspiration or Infomercial?
The conversation turned to the AVCA Convention, volleyball’s annual summit of coaches, directors, and innovators. “It’s awesome in concept,” Matt said. “But too many sessions turn into product pitches. It should be about ideas — not ads.”
Arielle’s take was more diplomatic: “There are great presentations, but if AVCA wants to keep evolving, they need to bring in the best minds, not just whoever filled out an application first.”
Their proposed solution?
A “Volleyball Lounge Live” — a pop-up broadcast right from the hotel bar during the convention. Real conversations. Real debates. No PowerPoints.
When AI Meets Club Volleyball: The Bay to Bay Plane Story
Then came the viral moment.
Matt posted an AI-generated image of a Bay to Bay Volleyball airplane — and the internet lost its mind. “People thought we bought a plane,” Matt laughed. “But what we actually did was charter flights through Southwest for two of our biggest tournaments — Chicago and Phoenix.”
The kicker?
It was cheaper than commercial airfare, perfectly timed for late matches, and customizable down to the banners on the plane. “They told us we could decorate it,” Arielle added. “It’s the most Bay to Bay thing ever.”
The post racked up half a million views — and a flood of DMs asking if “Bay to Bay Air” was real. “If people think it’s real,” Matt said, “that means we’re doing something right.”
The Grape Man Returns
Next up? The Grape Man Tournament — Bay to Bay’s homegrown grass event that started with 15 teams and now draws over 100. “We’ve got food trucks, wineries, music — it’s a full-on festival now,” said Matt. “It’s the perfect mix of competition and community.”
The Takeaway: Volleyball Doesn’t Need Permission
From NCAA matchups to AI airplanes, one thing’s clear — volleyball doesn’t need permission to “grow.”
It needs to keep building. Keep innovating. Keep owning its identity. “Shrink the game,” Arielle said. “Keep the real ones in and the noise out.”
Because volleyball’s not waiting to be discovered anymore.
It’s already here — and it’s only getting louder.