Club team on a streak

The men's volleyball team, ranked sixth in the nation last week, is still on a hot streak with a 10-2 record.

Led by Captains Josh Friedman, TD '01, Will Durbin, DC '01, and Steve Shaffer, PC '01, the volleyball team is comprised of both undergraduates and graduate students. As a Division II team, the Bulldogs belong to the New England Club Volleyball League and only meet their Ivy counterparts in one tournament to decide Ivy bragging rights. "If we are focused mentally and show up ready to play our game, we are contenders for the Ivy title," Durbin said.

Yet standing in their way is a lack of funding and tough competition from Princeton and Harvard. As a club sport, volleyball receives limited funding from the University. Unless alternative financial sources can be tapped, players have to provide their own transportation, meals, and lodgings, including a trip to Kansas City, Mo. for nationals.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' main rivals in the Ancient Eight, Princeton and Harvard, boast varsity teams that enjoy the benefits of recruitment and full funding. "It's frustrating that we are usually short on funds, since the Harvard and Princeton teams receive full funding as varsity teams," Durbin said. Despite these hardships, the Bulldogs are looking to maintain their first top-10 national ranking and to potentially restore the volleyball team to the varsity status it enjoyed during the '80s.

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