Buffball Preview: Senior Player Insights

As Redwood High School’s annual buffball tournament draws closer, players competing during their final season share their preparation plans and hopes.

By: Haley Padilla

As the weather begins to warm and the summer closets are dusted off, the season of buffball reawakens.

Buffball is a unique sport derived from the concept and name of volleyball. Its sole difference? The lineups consist of men rather than women.

Males assemble to create individual volleyball teams, who will compete against one another in an annual tournament held by Redwood on one Friday night in the spring. The event’s purpose is simply for entertainment and to determine which troupe of guys is the best buffball team. 

Before the championship, the boys are trained by girls. The coaches don’t necessarily need to be volleyball players, either (although they often are). A team of ten players is permitted with two coaches maximum.

The teams establish their team names, though they must remain school-appropriate. During the championship, competitors are required to wear athletic shoes and can’t wear spandex, despite their freedom to design their uniforms as they wish. 

Returning buffball contestants have already begun preparing for the upcoming season.

Lucas de Lima, ‘25, says, “I’m preparing for the upcoming buffball season by recruiting new players. We’re probably going to hold some practices soon over the weekends to get ready for the big tournament on March 28th.”

“I’ve been playing every weekend, you know, just playing hard,” said Cristian Carlos, ‘25.

Jake Bettencourt, ‘25, says, “My team has been practicing for a while after last year’s defeat. This year, we’re definitely not as confident, but we’re still confident in our abilities. We’re hoping to win, but not looking to win, you know?”

Some competitors from last year’s champions, the ATL Trackhawks, are coming back for their final season of buffball as a Ranger. As seniors, they will be contending for their final triumph.

“I think I will win [again],” said Carlos. “I’m going my own way instead of joining the ATL Trackhawks, I’m making my own team. I know my team will gloriously win it all.”

ATL Trackhawks member Ahmed Aziz, ‘25, says, “It felt great [to win last year]. We’re just hungry to go out there and get another victory.”

Other seniors participating in buffball for the last time are reflecting on the bittersweet memories they’ve crafting while playing.

“My sophomore year, we lost both of our matches and there was this underwhelming feeling that we just weren’t good enough. Last year we put off the first two wins in Gigantea history, and we were very proud,” said de Lima.

“I’m looking to really go one step further, or maybe two steps further and win the championship [my] senior year,” said de Lima.

Experienced buffball players are seeking improvement, especially for their final year, and have been preparing to dominate the court this year. 

Bettencourt says, “We definitely need to improve on our receiving. Last year, we were focused mostly on our setting and spiking, but we realized that you can’t really set and spike without being able to get the ball up when you’re receiving.”

“I think what we just got to keep working on is our synergy and working together well as a team, and that’s ultimately how we’re going to win,” said Aziz.

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