Corsairs Men’s Volleyball Team Eyes Post-Pandemic Return
Steve Whittle, 19, works out on the Santa Monica College track as he trains with the SMC volleyball team. April 4, 2021. the 6'3" Outside Middle Blocker is eager to play, but must wait until Spring 2022 to compete against other teams. (William Phelps | The Corsair)
When 10th-grader Steve Whittle envisioned his pre-pandemic college experience as a novice volleyball player five years ago, he couldn’t have predicted what was to come. “A year ago I would have said I feel very disappointed, sad, and upset about the [pandemic],” said the current Santa Monica College (SMC) freshman. “It was disappointing to have my senior year of [high school] volleyball be cut short, and junior nationals for my club team to be canceled...But I've definitely come to terms with it.”
The uncertainty of pandemic times helped push the University High School Charter volleyball captain towards a community college path, with his eyes on a NCAA Division I (D-I) transfer in two years. When asked why he decided on SMC over other local community colleges, the Los Angeles native and Inglewood resident responded, “[SMC’s] transfer program was absolutely the biggest factor…[as well as] the kind of diversity we have here at SMC. My high school was very diverse, and I want my college experience to be the same way.”
The recommendations of former teammates also factored into Whittle’s decision. “Two of my old high school volleyball teammates...said that they loved it,” the 6’3” middle and outside hitter stated. “The culture that [SMC] has — there is a very big sense of group, of family.”
Newly-appointed Head Coach Liran Zamir hopes to get his team back to the state playoffs during his first year in tenure, having replaced current Corsairs Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Turhan Douglas. The SMC men’s volleyball team won the 2015 CCCAA Championship, while finishing in the semifinals from 2014-2016. When asked why incoming freshmen might want to play collegiate men’s volleyball in the Golden State, Zamir responded, “California is the place to play men's volleyball. Every team, every high school, every club — they're all super strong.” The Israel native who grew up playing competitive volleyball in his home country continued, “All the best players in America are here [in California].”
Steve Whittle, 19, starred in volleyball in high school. Now the 6'3" Outside Middle Blocker is eager to star for Santa Monica College when the team resumes competitive play in Spring, 2022. He takes a break during an intense training session under first year head coach Liran Zamir. April 4, 2021. (William Phelps | The Corsair)
As to the rich talent pool of volleyball players at local Los Angeles-area community colleges, Zamir explained, “Many players don't get to go to those [D-I] schools, because the number of players [and] scholarships [are so limited]. Those players who are not going to D-I [schools] directly from high school...will go play two years at a community college.”
Zamir’s team took a step towards post-pandemic normalcy last week, conducting in-person training for the first time in over a year. The outdoor conditioning sessions were the first opportunity for many players and coaches to meet face-to-face. “I really expect us to start playing in the fall,” said Whittle. “The way that California has been going with COVID now — cases are dropping, and the vaccines are a lot more available than ever before...Most, if not all, of the volleyball team [has been] vaccinated.” Whittle remains cautiously optimistic that he and his team will be able to play at least “some games in the fall”.
In regards to the recent announcement by the UC’s and CSU’s to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students, Whittle responded, “I think it's great that they're requiring [student-]athletes to get vaccinated...and I really feel that [SMC] should follow in that same footprint.”
SMC’s current and future volleyball student-athletes hope that collegiate play is once again possible in the near future — with spring semester non-contact sports like swimming having already begun play last month.
