“10 to 8, game point!” a student yells, before tossing the ball in the air and spiking it into the net. All across Oakland University’s upper soccer fields, dozens of nets line the grass like campfires, each one surrounded by circles of four players battling for points. Teammates high-five each other in celebration. On the hillside above, students sprawl out crisscross on the grass, unwrapping Chipotle burritos as they watch the games unfold.
This is OU’s largest Spikeball tournament ever.
Spikeball, also known as roundnet, was invented in 1989, but the sport didn’t take off until 2015, when Chris Ruder pitched the game on “Shark Tank.” Since then, it has gained popularity across the U.S. and all around the world, with several leagues popping up on college campuses – including one at Oakland University, which formed in 2020.
The game consists of four players, two teams of two, gathering around a circular net. The ball can be passed between teammates or spiked into the net. If the opposing team can’t return the ball before it hits the ground – or uses up their limited number of passes – the point is lost. A new serve begins, and the game continues. What follows is usually a blur of quick dives, Hail Mary slaps and plenty of laughter.
Lance Markowitz, the treasurer of OU Roundnet, spent the summer organizing the event. The club’s executive board coordinated with Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC) and The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) to bring the event together.
“They both played a pretty large role in helping to promote the event,” Markowitz said. “We reached out to over 200 companies for sponsorships, for prizes and stuff, and then also just promoted it throughout the summer to try and get as many people here as possible.”
The tournament reached a broader audience, drawing in students beyond the usual circle of club regulars. Markowitz said he hopes this exposure will inspire more people to get involved with the club.
“I’m just really excited because we’ve had probably 10 to 15 people at our pickups, and I knew that once the tournament happened, that then that would allow us to kind of get a lot more people interested in wanting to get better, wanting to play more,” Markowitz said. “So I’m just so happy that they’re finally here.”
Markowitz encouraged students to give Spikeball a chance, with a simple message
“I feel like the quote, ‘you have to try it at least once,’ really applies with Spikeball,” he said. “It’s definitely worth trying.”
I picked up this assignment for The Oakland Post. I planned to stick to the sidelines with my camera, grab a handful of interviews when I could and head home. But through the idea of journalistic immersion – and maybe an overconfident belief in my athletic abilities – I decided to sign up for the competition and convinced my friend to be my partner.
I’ve played Spikeball exactly once in my life before the tournament – very badly, might I add – but the tournament was divided between three skill levels, and so I signed up for the beginner bracket.
When I arrived, the atmosphere was already buzzing. With more teams than nets, the sidelines were crowded. Two competitors wandered over to join us for a warmup, where I admitted that we didn’t know the official rules and were casual players. They patiently walked us through the basics of the game. For the next ten minutes, we practiced our serves, chased stray balls and laughed at our mistakes.
Then, the tournament began. Somehow, my partner and I won a game.
Before the competition began, we joked that we were “just here for the vibes” and that I was only there for the quotes. We even apologized to our opponents before the match began. But once we got the hang of it, we managed to hold our own.
One of my favorite moments came from Grant Kerry, a junior who was also playing in the beginner bracket. I spotted him lying on the sidelines, stretched out on the grass, watching a game
“Pop a squat,” he said as he waved me over, patting the ground beside him.
We sat side by side with our legs stretched out long, leaning back on our hands as we faced the September sun, chatting as the games unfolded in front of us.
“Honestly, I just played casually with friends, hence why I find myself in the beginner’s bracket,” Kerry said. “My friends never really played with rules, so I’m kind of learning the rules as we go. But I mean, it’s a good time.”
He explained how his biggest challenge of the tournament was staying mentally focused.
“One bad throw can really just kind of throw you off your game – get you in your own head. Just being able to stay grounded, even if it’s something I only do once every four months, is very important,” Kerry said.
Kerry and his roommate, Owen Hill, ended the day with a 4-1 record.
“Well, it’s honestly quite rejoicing – just because the only time you ever see people is in the OC locked in, kind of in their own world. I mean, everybody’s doing their own thing or in the classroom. It’s not really like college,” Kerry said. “But this out here gives you time to socialize, understand more about yourself, and what your likes and dislikes are, the people you vibe with. It’s good just seeing the community. Everybody is chill. Good vibes.”
Kerry wasn’t in the advanced bracket, nor was he a serious player – but neither was I. And in my opinion, that’s the whole point: Spikeball is about showing up and trying something new, no matter your skill level.
“What was your favorite part of the day?” I asked.
“Well, I really liked my Chipotle steak burrito.”
“Me too!” I laughed
“For the newspaper,” he added, with a grin. “I will say that my favorite part of the day was being out here, socializing and forgetting about school.”
Sometimes, it really is that simple – good company, a fun distraction from school and a burrito.
“Tell people that go outside and join clubs and touch grass,” Kerry said, half-stern, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand.
Spikeball is undeniably awesome – and no, the club did not bribe me to say that. You don’t need to be great at it – the people there will teach you with patience. You will be met with high fives and cheers every step of the way.
“What I found that I love about Spikeball is that the more you get into it, that it’s actually way more complex of us of a sport than I ever gave it credit for. And it seems like the more I learn, the more fun it gets, and the better the rallies are,” Markowitz said.
For more, follow their Instagram @ouroundnet or find them on GrizzOrgs. Practice is held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the upper fields on Monday and Wednesday. In the winter, they will play in the dome – because a little snow never stopped Spikeball.
