The game has changed dramatically throughout volleyball’s life since its first conception in 1895. Moving away from basic fireman rotations on the court, changes to the rules on net touches and back row attacks, and even having the game ball switch between Molten and Mikasa every year. Other transitions such as going from side-out scoring to 15 points onto rally scoring to 25 like we all play today have been a marking distinction between the old and new generations. The most significant change that has affected how younger players train and develop has been introducing role positions with middle blockers, outside hitters, setters, opposites, and liberos. Its introduction has been great for delineating responsibilities on the court and allowing players to become masters for their specific skill sets.

One by-product of this system is that once a player becomes established in their position, it can be nearly impossible to transition to another. It’s even rarer for middle blockers who seldom get defensive training in the backcourt, leaving them to be known as “block-heads.” One such player for the Ramblers, who has seen his career skyrocket since breaking out of the middle’s curse, has been opposite hitter Ryan Mather. Throughout high school and most of his career at Grand Canyon University, Ryan was an accolade-winning middle. In club volleyball, he took home bronze with SCVC at Junior Nationals, was nominated for all MIVA 2nd team nomination three years straight, and was even selected to play for the USA junior national team in 2012.

Proving himself to be an incredibly active middle with skills beyond the frontcourt, Ryan transitioned to the opposite in 2015 and has taken off since. Heading out from GCU, Ryan has played two years professionally overseas, where he got to put his skills to the test. Abroad he played for Akaa-Volley (@akaavolley) in Finland and Chev Diekirch Volley (@chevdiekirchvolleyball) in Luxembourg. The small country located between Belgium, France, and Germany is a unique place to play as one of Europe’s highest GDP per capita. As a smaller country, teams usually travel and play against all the surrounding country’s leagues, which can be great exposure for beginning players. With Diekirch, he finished 2nd in the Luxembourg SuperCup before COVID 19 canceled the rest of the tournaments.

Coming back to the states during the world’s first stage of lockdowns, Mather was quickly scooped up by the Vegas Ramblers to give them an edge for the 2020 Championships. Already well adapted to the desert heat from his years in Arizona, the Nevada team was a perfect fit for the California native. It was also a huge convenience to have his former setter and fellow Antelope, Tanner Maxwell, on the team. It was clear their connection was still crisp as the team finished third place at the tournament, with Ryan being named to the NVA All-Tournament team. It was clear as day how much Ryan had grown and developed as a player while abroad in Europe, displaying his bag of tricks and skills. With a powerful arm, high-IQ plays, and some fantastic backcourt defense from a big man Ryan Solidified himself as one of the All-Star players coming into the next season.

“I’m super stoked to get volleyball moving professionally here in the states. Our national team is top 5 in the world and one of the best teams, so we need to have that level here in the states to promote volleyball and keep us top in the world.” – Ryan Mather.

Fans can follow Ryan Mather (@rmather10), the Vegas Ramblers (@ramblersnvausa), and the NVA (@nvausa) on Instagram and Facebook to get weekly media updates leading up to the 2021 season. To see Ryan and the Ramblers in action, check out the NVA’s YouTube page to watch replays of the 2020 Championships in Salt Lake City and live stream coverage and commentary for the new season starting April 23rd-25th. The NVA is excited to have Mather back again this year! RAMBLE ON!

When creating the Las Vegas Ramblers, team owner and GM Vinny Rodriguez knew that he was going to have a unique situation – running a roster with players in both Las Vegas and Southern California. In order for the Ramblers to be successful, he would have to build a roster full of experienced and versatile players who would be able to come together and seamlessly gel as a unit. 

“I wanted to build a roster that was full of players who are not only well rounded on the court, but have a strong mental-game off the court. We need to be dynamic in order to be successful as we have a unique situation with a split roster, so finding players that can bridge that gap seamlessly will be a critical part of our team’s success,” Rodriguez stated.

The team found a key piece of their roster in Southern California native, Gino Gamboa. As a four-year veteran from UC Santa Cruz and touting 2 years of international experience playing in the UK and Denmark, Gamboa looks to be an integral part of the Ramblers squad moving forward. With ample experience as both an outside hitter and as a right side, Gino is a student of the game whose positive attitude and well-rounded playstyle makes him a threat for the young Ramblers roster. He recalls “My Junior year my coach comes up to me and is like ‘hey we want to try you on the right side but have you be a passing oppo’.” It would not be a starting spot, but Gamboa knew the doors that it could open, “We didn’t have a backup right side; or a solid one like say if he got hurt” so when his coach asked if he was interested, it was of course a resounding “Yes!”. 

“Those kind of skills are a necessity for this team” Rodriguez noted, “that’s the exact mentality I need from my players”

When watching Gino, the most impressive part about his game is not just the explosive back row presence, but his mental aptitude and energy on the court. He is a highly motivated and energetic player that is driven by his passion to continue learning the game and pursue being one of the best. 

A large ankle Injury at the end of his NCAA career may have left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth, but the NVA and the Las Vegas Ramblers are making sure to provide a perfect stage for Gino to return to the spotlight and make his mark.

The National Volleyball Association has announced that it will host its fourth tryout for the upcoming 2020 season with the Las Vegas Ramblers, taking place in Las Vegas on December 8^th. The Ramblers are an expansion team for the league in 2020, and they are looking to create excitement in a city where men’s volleyball is growing. The team is being headed up by Las Vegas native Vinny Rodriguez, a Concordia-Irvine alum and former player/coach for the OC Stunners.

Rodriguez is hoping to utilize his experience, to bring high level volleyball to his hometown of Las Vegas. “Growing up in Vegas, I know how hungry that area is for high-level volleyball, post-high school. Some great players have come out of Vegas, and I’m hoping to tap into that talent this coming season” Rodriguez stated. The Ramblers are looking to make an immediate impact in the NVA in 2020.

Stay tuned for updates regarding the Vegas Ramblers, including their core roster being named in mid-December.