Men’s Volleyball: Woloson emerges for ‘Eaters

Having completed work toward his sociology degree at UC Irvine, and coming from a background of privilege, Travis Woloson might be looking forward to starting post-graduate life with a leg up.

But when asked about his projected place in the working world, the senior men’s volleyball starter and role player revealed why his importance to the No. 4-ranked Anteaters is as great, if not greater than any of his more heralded teammates.

“I have kind of developed the thought that if I have to go to the work force, you can put me in the mail room and I will find a way to get out of there,” Woloson said. “I just want to live with that mentality.”

A fifth-year senior, the 6-foot-4 outside hitter’s career statistics prior to this season (27 kills, 31 digs and 11 aces) are an average weekend for an All-American. And while he has become a fixture in the lineup for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular-season champion, he still ranks sixth on the squad with 115 kills and he is more prone to irritate than intimidate opponents.

But to appreciate Woloson’s cumulative contribution, one must catalogue qualities, not quantity. It is in the gaps between points, the practices between matches, and the casual moments outside of competition in which his exponential excellence proves foundational to a program known for its altruistic culture.

“If [projected All-American and senior kill leader] Zack La Cavera is the face of the program, Travis is the soul,” said UCI Coach David Kniffin, whose ‘Eaters (25-4, 19-3 in conference) play host to No. 8-seeded UCLA in the MPSF Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“One of reasons people identify with Travis and love Travis is because despite his upbringing in a very wealthy community, he speaks to the person and organization that is blue collar,” Kniffin said. “He speaks to the person who keeps the train moving forward and you never know he exists. For four years, people didn’t really notice that Travis existed.”

That existence, Woloson acknowledged, was as challenging as it was anonymous.

“When I first came into the [UCI] gym, I was like ‘Oh my god, these guys are monsters,’” said Woloson, who redshirted in 2011, then was part of back-to-back NCAA championships in 2012 and 2013. “They were so much better than me and more physical, I found myself discovering through trial and error that the same shots that worked in high school, didn’t work here. I realized quickly that I would have to be really focused on the process of finding my role and finding a way to play at a level that was much higher than I had known.”

Woloson was the 2010 CIF Southern Section Division 2 Player of the Year at Laguna Beach High, which he led to the section championship as a senior. Having grown up playing on the beach, and having gleaned wisdom and skills from his brother in law and Assn. of Volleyball Professionals star Brian Lewis, it was an all-around game that Kniffin, then a UCI assistant coach, recognized would make the undersized, but ultra-competitive Woloson a worthy addition to the program.

“I wasn’t really a big recruit, a big 6-9 guy,” Woloson, who played at the Newport Beach-based Balboa Bay Volleyball Club, said. “I was kind of someone who played the game a lot and had been around and was a good volleyball player. I think what Kniff saw in me was that I wanted to compete and fit into the culture.”

Though largely ignorant of that culture when he stepped on campus, Woloson quickly saw there would be ways in which he could contribute, long before he cracked the lineup.

“I remember being frustrated [over his on-court struggles], because it’s not fun at times,” Woloson said. “But I saw there were ways I could impact the team and make teammates better, without even being on the court. I wanted to make the practice environment better and even help guys get better individually outside of the gym. Doing that kept me from being demoralized. And I always envisioned that each year, I could contribute more and more. I just had to develop the mentality that if you’re in a fight with a bear, someone better pray for the bear.”

Woloson, who would like to dabble on the pro beach tour beginning this summer, got a brief taste of starting as a junior. He opened this season in the starting lineup, only to be summoned back to the bench.

But, true to form, he kept working, and kept applying his trademark glue that helped keep the team together.

“I had seen people in that role when I got here and I knew they were well-respected,” Woloson said. “I felt like that role was just in me. It was in my DNA and it was kind of like a natural fit. I didn’t have to fight for that role. It was something I could feed off, because it was kind of who I was, who I still am. Kniff tells me to ‘Drive the engine,’ and I think it’s just like a natural role for me to fill.”

Woloson’s return to the starting lineup made a noteworthy splash, as he was named American Volleyball Coaches Assn. National Player of the Week on March 31.

“The next couple days after [receiving the national honor] were crazy,” Woloson said. “I was getting texts from everyone who had ever been involved in my volleyball career. A lot of people knew what I’d gone through and it felt good for them to reach out to me. I was very appreciative.”

Appreciation is something Woloson continues to receive from UCI players and coaches, for whom he has always delivered the mail.