Nothing combines fun and competition like intramurals, and intramural volleyball, known as Spike League at New Trier, attracts more than 200 students.

Intramurals are the alternative to New Trier’s competitive interscholastic athletics. There, sports are strictly for good times, but intensity is still high.

But don’t let that fool you. Since students pick their teams, they’re extremely close with their teammates, and no one wants to let their friends down. There are 22 teams in Spike League this year, with eight to ten members on each one.

The fight for the championship is taken seriously. Some teams have determined coaches and organized practices before the games, as well as team managers who wear coats and ties for the occasion.

Intramurals are “super competitive, but so fun,” said junior Caitlin Chapman. “The high competitiveness of the game makes our team want to work harder and have more fun. The competitiveness is good-natured but it’s tough competition. Win or lose, we always have a great time.”

Much of the organizing is done by Martha Stone, a parent who serves on the Booster Club. She says her involvement is rewarding because of the student’s enthusiasm. Students may sometimes arrive in costumes coordinated with their teammates and always have music blasting.

“It’s just fun,” said Stone. “I wish more people would realize that.”

Stone and other parents active in the Booster Club attend Spike League each week to supervise the games, pass out candy and make sure everything runs smoothly.

“It’s competitive enough that I want to come back every week, but it never gets so heated that I’m actually offended,” said senior Cindy Secaras. “It never gets too personal and it’s just healthy competition.”

One of Spike League’s unique features is the opportunity for boys and girls to play together on the same team. This creates a different atmosphere than other intramural sports that have leagues for each gender. It’s a “pretty even ratio of girls and boys,” Stone said. “It’s just as competitive as you want it to be.”

The league is divided into “A” and “B” brackets. The A league is more competitive than B. The B league is so relaxed that many players don’t even know their standings. The atmosphere is very comfortable.

The A league tends to be more intense because most of the teams have varsity volleyball players on them, but it’s still casual.

Each team keeps track of the score and celebrates their points with high fives and chants. The winner of each league gets its name written on a trophy, but more importantly to many students, candy is distributed to everyone.

Spike League is “a nice distraction from homework and school,” said junior Paul Sagraves. “It’s just a fun way to spice up Monday nights.”

A league rankings:

I’d Hit That 4-0
Safe Sets 3-0
Spicy Green Beans 3-0
Club Ice 3-1
Gus’s Amigos 3-1
Nasty Green Beans 3-1
Chris’s Hose 2-2
Speed Walkers 1-3
White Sugar 1-3
Smash or Nah 0-3
Title IX 0-3
Dick’s Sporting Goods 0-4
Jamie Handelman 0-4

B league rankings:

Spiked It 4-0
Wild Sets 4-0
Bump and Grind 2-1
How I Set Your Mother 2-2
Is It In? 2-2
Bird Alley 1-3
Price Carlson 1-3
The Spikers 0-4