Brown Volleyball Wins First National Title, Goes 10-0

Brown University's men's club volleyball team just proved that resilience and teamwork can create championship magic.

The team swept the Division 1AAA National Championship in Kansas City, winning all ten games over three days to claim their first-ever national title. In the final match, they defeated Illinois State 25-19, 25-23 to bring home the trophy.

Co-captains Wesley Hackett and Ohm Patel led the charge, with Hackett earning First Team All-Tournament honors and Patel named Tournament Most Valuable Player. The team finished their regular season 7-2 before advancing through regionals to reach the national stage.

The path to victory wasn't easy. During their second-day match against Yale, the team played what co-captain Luke Rossi called "the longest set of volleyball I've ever played in my life," ultimately winning 36-34 after an intense back-and-forth battle.

Head Coach Sam Hillestad and Assistant Head Coach Matt Lo, both Brown alumni who played on the team during their undergraduate years, volunteer their time to coach. Hillestad reached out a few years ago to provide the formal coaching structure he wished he'd had as a player.

"In my time playing, I wish we'd had a coach," Hillestad said. "I was really happy to be able to help provide that experience that I wanted a little bit more when I was an undergrad."

Why This Inspires

Spencer Yang's story adds profound meaning to this championship. The freshman starter was injured during the December 13 campus shooting and made it his biggest goal to return to the court.

At Nationals, Yang played every match of the tournament. "Every day was fun because we were excited to play and excited to do better," he said.

Several players were directly affected by the shooting, and volleyball became a way to heal and move forward. The team's deep bonds showed on the court through their communication and camaraderie, qualities Hillestad says are essential in volleyball.

This championship represents more than athletic achievement. It's a story of students supporting each other through tragedy, volunteer coaches investing in the next generation, and a tight-knit group of friends who refused to give up when matches got tough.