Plans are underway to field a boys’ volleyball team this spring at Allen County-Scottsville High School.

The creation of a boys’ volleyball team has received approval from the Allen County Board of Education and applications are being accepted for a head coach and an assistant.

Growing interest in men’s volleyball at the collegiate level across the state led to the KHSAA approving boys’ volleyball as a sanctioned sport last fall.

“Boys’ volleyball is gaining in popularity within our state,” ACS athletic director Brad Hood said in a statement. “When you look around you see all of the small colleges in Kentucky are now offering men’s volleyball and offering scholarships. With the interest in volleyball around here, it’s a no-brainer.”

Allen County-Scottsville male students were polled to gauge interest in participating in volleyball. The results prompted school athletic officials to move forward with fielding a varsity squad with 50-60 students expressing interest.

According to the KHSAA website, 74 schools across the state will participate in the first season of the new sanctioned sport. The KHSAA has divided the participating schools into eight regions with Allen County in Region 1 – joining Adair County, Daviess County, Fort Campbell, Hart County, Ohio County, South Warren and Trinity (Whitesville).

Boys’ volleyball will be a spring sport with teams able to start practice on Feb. 3. The regular season will run from March 3 through May 7. Teams may schedule 25 contests leading up to postseason play, with tournament action starting at the regional level.

The regional tournament window is May 9-12. To field a 16-team state tournament, both the region winner and runner-up move on. First round state tournament play is May 14-17 with the state semifinals and finals May 20 at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.

The process of finding a coach and an assistant coach is ongoing at Allen County, although Hood said that he feels candidates are available.

“The good thing is that we have (girls’ coach) Cameron Cook and his crew that have been around the volleyball scene,” Hood said. “We do have some fallback plans, but we do have the job posted and are waiting on applicants. We are looking forward to bringing another sport to the kids at AC-SHS.”

Students interested in playing on the first boys’ volleyball team can contact Hood or Cook for more information. Anyone interested in coaching can contact Hood, Cook, or high school principal Shane Humphrey.

Boys’ volleyball is the 23rd KHSAA-sanctioned sport or activity available for student-athletes at Allen County-Scottsville.