In 2005, Kathryn Waymenn started the women's club volleyball team at Southeast Missouri State University. Over the past seven years, the club has grown to 23 girls who compete for the love of the game.

"We have two teams of eight," senior team member Kristin Wedemeier said. "There are also about seven other girls who are in the club but do not travel with us to our tournaments."

This semester the two teams will compete in four tournaments in Missouri and Illinois. They are funded by membership dues, fundraisers and allocations from the school. Next year they plan to raise money by helping the university's volleyball team at home games with scorekeeping and line judging, Wedemeier said.

Because it is a tournament-oriented team, Wedemeier said the girls on the traveling team become more focused and serious on the road. That doesn't mean that practices can't be fun, though.

"We have a great time and usually end up laughing through most of the practice at our errors, just acting goofy," Wedemeier said. "It's a fun time, and we always try to be positive."

Wedemeier joined as a freshman because she was looking for an activity to get involved with and club volleyball sounded like an activity she would enjoy. She played one year of high school volleyball and said she wouldn't compare the club volleyball team at Southeast to a high school team.

"This club is more like playing on a club team rather than for the actual high school because we only play in tournaments like clubs do," Wedemeier said.

Another reason the club volleyball team is different from a high school team and the university team is that there is no coach. There is a president and vice president who are in charge of the team, lead practices and schedule tournaments. Celeste Shupe is president and Wedemeier serves as vice president.

"We try to help each other out as much as possible," Wedemeier said. "The girls understand that if we try to help or correct them, it is to help them grow as a player not to criticize them. Most of the time coaching is taken with an open mind. They know that in order for us to improve as a team, we need to help each other become better."

With practices twice a week and four tournaments, the team spends a lot of time together.

"I have met some of my best friends through this club," Wedemeier said. "It's a fun time, and we always try to be positive. All the girls tend to have a good attitude, which makes all the paperwork, meetings, ect. all worth it."