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Volleyball fans get their fix at Brooksville coed league

By Mike Camunas, Times Staff Writer
In print: Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Steve Mahon and Rachel Powell share a laugh during a league game.
	[MIKE CAMUNAS | Times]

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ADVERTISEMENT [MIKE CAMUNAS | Times] Whitney Thomas looks through the net during a break in a game.

BROOKSVILLE

They don't look like volleyball players.

Most aren't over 6 foot, their uniforms don't match and some aren't even wearing knee pads.

But they're members of the Co-Ed Volleyball League that meets every Thursday at the Jerome Brown Community Center. It's an informal gathering for people — anyone, really — looking for a good time playing volleyball.

Besides, no experience is necessary.

"People also make friends here," said Steve Mahon, who's been playing volleyball since the '80s and even played in the Marines. "They can help out with friendships or making a relationship with others, and then there are others who come out here to learn the game. Not everyone that comes out at first knows the game."

That's true. There are no superstars in this league. Sure, there may be a few ringers — those who played on the high school team or in college back in the day — but this isn't even a real league. Teams are created each week by evenly dividing those who show up. Mahon says the "league" usually gets enough to make two teams with rotating players, but it has gotten up to three teams as well.

"This is for fun — we know that," Mahon said. "This is for recreation, to come out and have a good time and play some ball. Here we get people who want to play seriously, but not competitively."

Take Ty Chibberton, for example. He's one member who has made great strides since joining the league, just by having an open mind.

"I knew nothing when I came out," Chibberton said. "I love to listen, so I picked it up quickly. It wasn't hard, plus these guys (here) were more than willing to help out."

For one member, this type of volleyball is about convenience, just as much as the challenge level.

"I love to play beach volleyball, but it's a little hard to get a bunch of people to the beach," Whitney Thomas said. "I'd never played indoor volleyball until a couple of years ago, but last year I started coming here because it's fun and friendly. We still get to hit, even with that."

Tara Girard, who not only plays high school volleyball but is also on a club team, says this Brooksville league is her time to have fun, and, well, play some more volleyball.

"I really can't get enough of volleyball," Girard said. "Coming here is good for me because I get to play older people and gain more experience. I play a lot of volleyball already, but there's plenty of advice I can get here as well. … This is also my fun volleyball. I can relax a little bit. If I hit a serve into the net, it's no biggie, but at the same time, I can know there's something I can do to make the serve better."

Mahon loves that it's a coed league, saying, "It makes us work more on the teamwork aspect, so when you can get the teamwork of it down, it makes for better teams," especially when it comes to receiving the ball and placement for sets. Thomas agrees, feeling the level of play makes everyone better.

"The coed league is great," Thomas said. "There's guys here who hit hard, so it makes it more of a challenge and gets you better. It makes you play harder because it's good to play with people who are good — this is tough. I would say there are no easy games or free rides here."

Submit story ideas and feedback to Community Sports Editor Mike Camunas at mcamunas@sptimes.com or call (352) 544-9480.