By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer
At the start of the fall semester, Baylor hosts Late Night — a massive club fair featuring over 400 clubs and organizations. But for Randos, community isn’t found on Fountain Mall; rather, it is found in a GroupMe.
Although it’s not an official campus group, Baylor Rando Volleyball University, nicknamed Randos, has gained a lot of attention as its membership continues to grow. With nearly 600 members, this GroupMe connects students who share a passion for volleyball.
“Indoor club is a lot more competitive than what we do here at Randos, and the real purpose of this GroupMe really is to bring people in, people who have never played volleyball before or people who just enjoy playing,” Macomb, Michigan, junior Sammy Hsiung, the GroupMe owner, said.
Primarily used as a communication tool, members post questions about the time, and those who plan to attend like the message, which helps other members decide whether to attend that day.
“The people that like it obviously will go, and maybe we’ll have roughly 12 likes, but in reality maybe 20 to 30 people show up,” Hsiung said.
Depending on who shows up, some students stay only a little while, while others play for up to four hours straight. For El Paso freshman Zerach Hernandez, Randos has become a second family, offering encouragement and tips to improve his skills.
“All the people there are incredible people,” Hernandez said. “They were all super inviting and super nice, which is what made it such a positive environment to be around, and that’s why we keep going back.”
While Hernandez stumbled upon Randos walking around the SLC one night, others may have a harder time finding out about the group. For a GroupMe with so many members, knowledge of Randos remains largely hidden.
“You wouldn’t really know about it until you’ve been around someone … So sometimes there’s people that will go entire years without knowing there’s indoor volleyball tracks,” Hsiung said.
Even inside the GroupMe, some of the history remains a mystery. Hsiung joined the group his freshman year and, over time, became more and more involved. The previous owner, Tyler Hager, later gave him ownership, but he still doesn’t know how the GroupMe started.
For most regular attendees, however, where the GroupMe came from matters far less than what it has become. Euless sophomore Glory Mbilo said that this community has brought her spark back.
“I played club for my entire life, but I didn’t want to play in college for a while,” Mbilo said. “I started going every day and [realized] I actually missed it so much.”
Mbilo said she reignited that passion because of the welcoming atmosphere. Players of all different levels of experience and talent are welcome to join, creating a space where everyone feels like they have a place on the court.
“Volleyball is one of those sports that bring people together,” Hsiung said. “It’s naturally team-oriented, so they’re in a good environment and allowed to make friends under those circumstances.”
