PUC’s Men’s Volleyball Team’s 36-Year Transformation

Athletics in North American Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities date back only 40 years. Because there was not a long history, Pacific Union College’s Men’s Pioneers Volleyball Team was established only during the 1989-1990 school year, when the college began its athletic program.

During this time, Chuck Evans was PUC’s athletic director and oversaw the development of the athletics program. In this role, he was appointed the first head coach of PUC’s men’s volleyball team, a position he held for three years. While their team was not accepted into a national organization or conference, they competed in a club setting and set their record during their first year as a team: 14-1. “The first year the men’s team was absolutely dominant,” shared Evans.

The team later competed in the California Coastal Conference, and it was not until 2017 that the team was adopted as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) sport. PUC was the second school to join the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the national organization that many other Adventist colleges later joined to start competing in interscholastic athletics. As PUC was in the California Coastal Conference, they moved on and joined the California Pacific Conference (CAL PAC).

In the 1994-1995 school year, Professor Emeritus Bob Paulson came to PUC and served as the men’s volleyball team's coach. One of the team's biggest accomplishments was winning second place in the NAIA West Regional Men’s Volleyball Tournament at Simpson University in 1999, with PUC alumnus David Rai as assistant coach. On the roster that year were Chris Hansen, Sean Trace, Jeff Chamberlain, Jason Konn, Jeff Gleason, Ryan Casey, Lars Engeberg, Bryan Loh, Justin Gatling, Dorian Silva, Steven Dulcich, and PUC Church Youth and Associate Pastor Garrison Chaffee.

As a coach, Paulson believes one learns more about the student-athletes than in a classroom within a whole school year. On and off the court, he has seen his players break down their walls and be their unfiltered selves. “They all have stories,” he said. “Seeing them go through things, in life, some meet through men's and women's volleyball, who have gotten married. It's about people who are going to represent your institution well, not just play the sport well. You've got to represent well, that’s critical to me.”

To this day, Paulson still keeps in touch with his players and shares that they are doing great in their careers. “I’m extremely proud of all of them,” he said. “I always tell my teams, once you play for me, you’re my people for life.” Talking so fondly of his players and the culture built from bonding on and off the court, it is just a glimpse of how important these players are to him after all these years.

Now, Louis Ramirez sits as the head coach of the men’s volleyball team. He has been involved with the program since 2020, starting as a student-athlete, transitioning into a managerial role, then serving as an assistant coach, and now having the privilege of leading PUC’s men’s volleyball team. “Having experienced the team from multiple perspectives has given me a deep understanding of its culture and potential,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve witnessed significant growth—not only in skill level and competitiveness, but also in team cohesion, accountability, and overall program identity. We are continuing to build on that foundation and are committed to sustained improvement.”

With his first season as head coach, the team holds a 6-7 overall record and is currently ranked third within the conference. While their record reflects progress and room for growth, their focus “remains on continued development, consistency, and finishing the season strong.” Ramirez and his players are confident that their work ethic and commitment will translate into improved results next year’s season.

Since PUC’s men’s volleyball team is still new within the NAIA, Ramirez said they are still in the process of establishing their competitive legacy. However, during the 2024-2025 season, the team achieved a significant accomplishment by advancing to the conference championship match. Although they fell short against the 6-time champions, Westcliff Warriors from Westcliff University in Irvine, CA, the players gained valuable experience and marked a milestone in the development of PUC’s men’s volleyball program, showcasing that the team is capable of competing at a high level and setting new standards.

In recent seasons, one of the team’s greatest strengths has been the family-oriented environment they have created. With trust, respect, and accountability at their core, the team's relationships have strengthened year after year as the student-athletes support each other on and off the court. Whether they are practicing, competing, or traveling, their close bond has induced energy, positivity, inclusivity, and unity within their team’s identity.

For Paulson, PUC’s men’s volleyball team values have always been to play to the best of their ability and to respect their opponents. What he has seen through the current team is that they don’t have an attitude of being better than a teammate or opponent. He’s also seen them be fearless in speaking their mind. “They love their sport,” said Paulson. “They will do everything and anything they can to help other people get a glimpse of how much fun it is, and they love to have fun. The kids in these groups are very committed to PUC. I’m proud of this year's team. They're a good group of guys, they're having a good time.”

The evolution from Paulson’s time as coach to where the team is now has gone from predominantly players from the state who want a Seventh-day Adventist education while pursuing their passion for the game, to students recruited to attend PUC to play. While PUC’s athletic department selects student-athletes who have a genuine love for volleyball and a drive to improve and compete, they also look beyond their skills and find players who demonstrate resilience and a willingness to contribute to a team-first culture, giving their all to fully invest themselves in PUC’s volleyball program.

Devoting themselves to the program also means carrying the serious responsibility of representing the college on and off the court. As they wear “PUC” on their chests, playing in green and gold reflects the institution’s values and standards, which Ramirez and his staff constantly remind their players that they are ambassadors of the college who must demonstrate respect, professionalism, and integrity, whether in competition, in the community, or in the classroom.

“We center our program around three core values: discipline, family, and enjoyment of the game,” said Ramirez. “We believe discipline is foundational—players must first learn to control what they can individually, including their effort, mindset, and preparation. From there, we emphasize the importance of functioning as a cohesive unit, supporting one another as a team and as a family. When those two elements are in place, the game becomes both rewarding and enjoyable. These values extend beyond volleyball and help prepare our athletes for success in life.”

Outstanding volleyball players have come through PUC’s program, shaping its identity. One alumnus was Justin Vital, the 2023-2024 team captain, CAL PAC Defensive Player of the Year, and a First Team All-Conference selection. During this season, he averaged 3.49 digs per set, ranking number one in the conference, and totaled 181 digs in 15 seasons' games, which made him the number three nationally ranked digs per set in the NAIA. Ramirez credits Vital’s “work ethic, discipline, and commitment to excellence” as a continued standard within their program.

As these students are devoted to the game, they and their coaches know that their education comes first. With the expectation in their program to balance academics and athletics, the players understand that success is essential to their long-term development, not just meeting GPA requirements to be eligible for the team. Through continuous encouragement from their coaching staff to instill time management, accountability, and focus in the classroom, these student-athletes stay motivated to succeed and recognize that excellence in the classroom supports their performance on the court.

When it comes to PUC standing out from other volleyball programs, Ramirez credits living in Angwin with offering student-athletes a “unique” environment. “Located in a more secluded, mountainous setting, PUC provides student-athletes with the opportunity to minimize distractions and focus on their academic and athletic goals,” he said. “This environment fosters discipline, intentionality, and personal growth. Our program benefits from this setting by developing athletes who are not only competitive on the court but also dedicated in the classroom and grounded in their priorities.”

Paulson’s hope is that PUC’s Men’s Volleyball Pioneers team grows into a larger program and provides a positive, spiritual learning environment. “That to me is the goal for Adventist education period,” he expressed. “You want them to represent the institution well. I want them to find a source of spiritual community that allows them to know and grow in their relationship with Christ.”

Ramirez continues to keep his vision alive by growing and sustaining competitiveness at the highest level of the program. “While we have historically been viewed as a smaller program, we are steadily changing that perception through our development and performance,” he said. “Our goal is to consistently compete with top programs and establish ourselves as a respected contender within the conference and beyond. We are building toward a future defined by excellence, resilience, and a strong program identity.”