There is finally a place for people of a variety of ages to play one of Orillia's most popular sports on a more organized basis.
The Orillia Volleyball Club was founded this past summer by Jesse Prasad and his wife, Daniela, after they moved to the area from Woodbridge.
"We didn't know anybody but wanted to play," he said. "We went to a pickup session, met a couple of friends, and now we are booking gyms to form a league for youth and adults."
Prasad began renting local gyms and inviting friends to play pickup games two to three times a week.
"We were getting big numbers coming out," he said. "People were excited about it, and it just kept growing."
People representing a wide range of ages have been attending the co-ed drop-in program, which has surprised Prasad.
"We are getting a lot of high school students and people from Lakehead University, which we are happy about," he said. "We also have people over 50 coming out."
Typically, he will group the younger, more competitive players on one court, while beginner players and those with mobility issues will play on another.
"We want it to be as fun as possible for all skill levels," he said. "The goal is to eventually offer six- to eight-week development classes for newcomers."
Prasad says volleyball is one of the most inclusive sports for people to play.
"If you've never played before, you can spend five minutes on the side, learning the basics. You can get into a game pretty quick," he said.
The Orillia Volleyball Club plays at Orillia Secondary School, using three courts, every Friday from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. The cost to take part is $15.
This past Saturday, the club hosted its first tournament at Orillia Secondary School. It is capped out with 12 teams registered. More than 100 people were on hand to play and watch.
The club is already planning for another tournament sometime in February.
"I'm very surprised with how popular the sport of volleyball is here," Prasad said. "We are excited to keep it growing."
More information about the Orillia Volleyball Club can be found here.
