Tom Bratt

Staff Writer

Grand Rapids increased its collection of professional sports teams this year, adding the Grand Rapids Force, a professional women's indoor volleyball team.

The Force is part of a new four-team league called the United States Professional Volleyball League (USPV) -- the first women's professional sports league to not be preceded by a men's league.

The other three teams in the USPV, which began its inaugural season this February, are the Chicago Thunder, Minnesota Chill and St. Louis Quest.

The fact that there isn't a men's professional volleyball league is a huge advantage to the USPV because ``we don't have to follow anyone's expectations,'' said Marcy Boerema, director of public relations for the Force. Team members can be ``athletes to the core,'' she said.

Not having to live up to expectations takes pressure off the Force that women's leagues that follow men's leagues, such as the WNBA, have had, said Boerema.

This lack of pressure allows the Force to reach out to the community and focus more on being role models, especially to their target audience, 12- to 28-year-old females.

Jen Flynn, a setter for the Force, believes there is a need for female athletic role models because, ``before the start of women's sports leagues, young girls could only look up to men playing sports. Now they can watch us and eventually have the opportunity to make their dreams come true,'' said Flynn.

Being ``athletes to the core'' means being role models to their fans and the community as a whole, said Flynn.

Cristy Chapman, a middle blocker for the Force, acknowledges: ``volleyball has given me so much. This is a good way for me to give back to the sport.''

Since the league and the team are just beginning, however, games require more than athletes. The USPV relies on volunteers to assure that games run smoothly.

Because the Force doesn't have a home stadium yet, their home matches are played at the Delta Plex in Grand Rapids and at a gym in Kalamazoo. While the athletes play, volunteers do everything else: they transport equipment from the home office to the Delta Plex, set the equipment up and pass out programs, said Boerema.

Boerema also hopes volunteers will help think up a team mascot for the Force next season.

Although their first job is to play the game and play it well, Force team members argue that their example is also very important.

``As professional volleyball players, we are in the public eye and kids will look up to us and have dreams to be like us when they grow up,'' said Force middle blocker Val Sterk.

``Holding strong morals and standards and living by them is crucial. We need to be models for them as they strive toward their goals,'' she said.

The Force is actively trying to be accessible to the fans by giving autographs and holding meet-the-players sessions after games, Boerema said.

In addition, the USPV attracts many Jr. High and Sr. High School volleyball teams, inspiring their players by showing them that there is an opportunity to go farther than the collegiate level with volleyball, she said.

``The league gives girls in college motivation to play harder, so they can keep going,'' said Calvin freshman Kristen De Groot, who is an attacker for the Calvin varsity volleyball team.

DeGroot, who had heard rumors about the USPV in the past, is excited that it now exists.

``The league gives a great opportunity to women and gives them an option after college that they didn't have before,'' she said.

The Force's next home game, which will be held at the Delta Plex, is on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Information about how to help the team through setup and internships can be found by calling the Force's office at 456-8778 or on the USPV website at www.uspv.com.