On Oct. 6, 2025, Boys’ Volleyball was officially approved as a sport by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA). The sport has grown a lot in recent years, yet two Oregon school districts, Portland Public Schools (PPS) and the Beaverton School District (BSD), decided not to fund the newest sport. Players at Ida B. Wells have had to raise money for a club in the absence of an official team and a lack of funding. This has caused backlash among volleyball communities as well as broader sports communities.
For Boys Volleyball players, the lack of an official team volleyball could be crushing. Frank Mathews, who coaches the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team at IBW, said, “it can be devastating to a kid to have a sport taken away.”
If a student isn’t as strong academically, a sport can be something they’re very passionate about and proud of. “It’s their opportunity to show all their friends that they’re good at something,” said Matthews. “And I think that is devastating for kids when they can’t have a platform to show off who they are and what they’ve worked hard for.”
Sports also help athletes build strong relationships with their peers. These friendships could carry throughout high school. Even if they don’t, the other students on the team become a large part of their social network during those two or three months. These connections are crucial, as younger athletes meet upperclassmen who are able to give them advice and help them through high school. Mathews said, “Whenever I ask a kid about what their favorite part of the season was, it rarely has anything to do with soccer. It’s bus rides, pizza…all those things are what adds up.”
Sports like volleyball can give students some structure and something productive to do after school. Ida B. Wells varsity Girls and Boys Volleyball coach Mark Mendak said that 80% of Boys’ Volleyball players aren’t playing another sport. Volleyball gave them something productive to do and provided them with new skills and friendships.
Many high schools, including IBW, have had school club volleyball teams. These clubs are self-funded through fundraisers and volleyball booster clubs and are not affiliated in any way with PPS or PIL. For the past three years, Mendak has run the Boys’ club at IBW. For the first two years, he had to do a lot of the organization of Boys’ Volleyball games. He reached out to coaches and other programs to get the athletes game experience. He was also responsible for finding a place for the boys to practice. They practiced at IBW or Jackson Middle School when they could get the gym space, but occasionally had to practice at Riverdale High School.
The volleyball club brought Boys and Girls Volleyball together. The girls’ team helped out with the club by coaching the boys and practicing with them. The girls went to boys games and participated as line judges and referees. When the girls’ team has their senior night, the boys help them out by working at the games so the team can enjoy a dinner together. The special thing about this club is that it gives Girls’ and Boys’ Volleyball players a chance to form friendships and help each other out.
The real issue for Boys’ Volleyball is funding. PPS representatives stated that they do not want to fund a sport just to cut it the next year, as they are facing a $40 million budget cut for the 2026-27 school year while Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) is looking at a $450-750,000 cut. Dr. Jon Franco, PPS’s Senior Chief of Operations, stated that it would cost $238,000 just to add varsity teams, and $350,000 to add freshman and JV teams in addition to varsity.
There is hope for Boys Volleyball down the line, according to Diallo Lewis, the Assistant Director of Athletics for PPS. “I think anything is possible…we need to be in a better financial situation,” he said.
Boys who want to play can participate in club volleyball outside of school, but it’s very difficult for parents and athletes to keep up with. Most clubs are highly competitive and not ideal for people who just want to try the sport or play for fun. Clubs are also very expensive, with one boys’ club charging $4,500 per season for their best team.
Mendak suggests that boys who want to play volleyball should find adult leagues they could enter, or find others who want to play and reach out to clubs to see if they can scrimmage one of their teams.
It’s widely known that sports have a positive impact on teenagers’ lives, and the relationships boys can form through volleyball are crucial to navigating high school. “If you just play club sports, no one sees it, your friends don’t see it,” Mathews said, “but at high school, everyone sees it, and so you get the opportunity to show your ability…it’s courageous.” If you are interested in supporting Boys’ Volleyball, you can attend one of their games during their season in the spring.
