On March 7, the Hillsdale College Student Federation approved $5,000 in spending to help the administration fund sand volleyball courts.
Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said he wants to build two sand courts, costing $12,000 in total. To be finished this summer, the courts will be located in the clearing between Sage Center and the Roche Sports Complex, said Chris Gravel, volleyball coach.
Last year, former Student Fed President Esther Ashmore went to the administration, asking them to help Student Fed fund the project. Since the courts were already on the administration’s radar screen, they agreed to pay the rest if Student Fed would supply $5,000, said David Wilhelmsen, current Student Fed president.
“Over the past 10 years, the students ask for something like this,” Péwé said.
Thus why the administration decided to move forward with the building of the courts.
Last August, Péwé asked Gravel to research possible sites for the courts, the cost for construction, and where they could cut costs while still doing a good job. Groundwork for the courts began this fall.
“He knows what works and doesn’t work,” Péwé said.
Gravel said he and his father-in-law will be the ones building the courts, significantly decreasing the cost. To construct the net system with a company could be $7,000, with Gravel and his father-in-law, it will cost between $400 and $600.
The most expensive part of the project is the sand, Gravel said. However, the sand itself is not nearly as expensive as transporting the sand, he added. Because good quality sand makes good quality courts, Gravel is looking at sand from Lake Michigan. Nothing has been decided yet, but they are collaborating with a few companies.
Gravel said Student Fed’s recent approval of additional funding will cause them to press into the project more. He will begin the project after the volleyball season ends in April.
The courts will offer great opportunities for the students, Gravel said. Not only could they use it for fun, Gravel’s wife could potentially teach a beach volleyball class, and Gravel himself could have tournaments there or use the courts for practice. He said they should be finished this summer in time for fall beach volleyball class.
Péwé said the courts will add to student life and anything that does is a good addition to campus. Over time, if students make use of them regularly, perhaps lighting will be added for later use.
“My wife and I were serious beach volleyball players at one time,” Gravel said. “This makes me very happy.”
He said the interest in volleyball has risen over the past few years and people are looking to play anywhere – indoors or outdoors.
“This is good for the majority of campus who are always studying and cooped up,” Wilhelmsen said.
“I’m just as excited as the students are,” Gravel said.
