Central, Benton, and Lafayette face off in first city tri-match
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Not too long ago, the thought of having boys volleyball at the high school level may have seemed like a far-off execution, but entering 2025, boys volleyball continues to grow in St. Joseph. For the first time in the community, Central, Benton and Lafayette squared off in a city tri-match on Thursday at Central High School as they prepare for their upcoming seasons.
Central, entering its second year of competition, claimed victory in both of its matches, which was best of two, defeating Benton and Lafayette to finish 2-0 on the night. The Indians, who went 9-12 last season and earned a district tournament win, showed their experience as they swept Benton 25-18, 25-14 to cap off the event.
Benton would get the night started with a two-set victory over Lafayette, 25-15, 25-14, while Central opened its play with a dominant 25-8, 25-9 win over the Fighting Irish. Despite the losses, both Benton and Lafayette gained valuable experience.
“They’re figuring it all out quicker than I expected them to,” Benton head coach Robert Henderson said. “The communication, camaraderie, effort. I mean, they’re sticking to it. They’re playing hard, and I couldn’t ask for more. They’re hanging in there and are doing everything right so far.”
Lafayette, meanwhile, has seen a surge of interest in boys volleyball. After gauging interest last year with about 15 students, the program has now drawn more than 30 players in its first full season. Head coach Gary Wilkinson, who picked up volleyball recently, sees the sport’s potential to grow even further.
“I picked up volleyball myself about two years ago, then how much of a fun sport it was,” Wilkinson said. “And I’m really excited to see where it goes because I know a lot of boys, they’re against it, but once they go out there and they play, they’re not going to want to put it down.”
The opportunity to introduce more athletes to the sport is something that Benton senior Gage Snodgrass sees as a major benefit.
“I think there’s a lot of hidden talent in schools, just kids walking the hallways that don’t play any sports, and they get that chance to get themselves out and involved,” Snodgrass said. “So, I mean, yeah, kind of like you said, there’s a lot of kids. I just don’t think they’re able to play a certain sport, so they’ll come out here and just try it for fun and they’ll like it.”
Snodgrass, along with teammate Steven, has been playing volleyball since childhood, making Benton one of the more intriguing programs as the season begins.
With the tri-match serving as an early test, all three schools now shift their focus to the season ahead. Benton will compete in the Hy-Vee Invitational on Saturday, while Lafayette will also take part in a Hy-Vee tournament that same day. Central, meanwhile, begins its regular season Tuesday against Lee’s Summit North.
