Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds, this Michael Phelps look-alike is a big guy with big ambitions. Joe Hammer, a sophomore in LAS, is the founder of Bounce!, a volleyball club designed for anyone who loves volleyball. Hammer founded the club last year.

Hammer has been playing volleyball since his freshman year at Carmel High School in Mundelein, Ill. He also played for a club team called Sky High. During his volleyball career, his talent enabled him to compete in two national competitions.

Originally, Hammer said, he wanted to start a break dancing club because he thought it would be fun to learn, but soon decided a volleyball club better suited his talents. The second night of Hammer’s freshman year, he walked around the Quad during a social event and asked people if they would be interested in signing up for his free, no-commitment volleyball club. With the overwhelming response, Hammer took his idea to the next step. He advertised the club on the student organization Web site, sent out mass e-mails, and woke up early in the morning to reserve court times at the Intramural Physical Education Building (IMPE).

Greg Hoffman, Hammer’s friend since third grade and a pioneer of Bounce!, said Hammer’s ambition surprised him.

“He was the ringleader of it all and I was kind of along for the ride. As a scared little freshman, I thought he was crazy, but it turned out pretty well,” Hoffman said.

Bounce! meets twice a week from 8-10 p.m. at IMPE. Teams are divided up by general skill level, but not a lot of emphasis is placed on skill so that newer players can get help from players with prior experience.

James Hardy, sophomore in engineering, said he believes Bounce! made him a better volleyball player.

“I started out not knowing how to do anything and now I can keep up, which is all that I ever wanted to do. Now I can take that and play at the rec center back home,” Hardy said.

Bounce! has about 55 members and gains new members each week. The club involves no obligations with a “come-when-you-want” type of commitment, which separates it from many of the other organizations on campus.

“Its not like you have to go; it doesn’t require preparation or anything,” said Ashley Poynter, sophomore in LAS. “It’s just nice and relaxing.”

Hoffman also said he enjoys the carefree aspects of the club.

“You go whenever you want to go. If you have no homework, and you want to sweat a little bit, you can go play,” Hoffman said.

Bounce! not only enables students to play a relaxed game of pick-up volleyball but also fosters friendships among members.

“I met one of my best friends through Bounce!,” Hardy said. “And I know dozens of people just through Bounce!, so it’s a really good way to meet people,” Hardy said.

Unfortunately, because Hammer recently joined Illinois Men’s Volleyball, he will have to pass the torch of his presidency. Members said they would miss Hammer because of his consistently optimistic and encouraging attitude.

Hammer said he hopes Bounce! continues its legacy at the University.

“Bounce! is almost like my child; and if I could, twenty years from now, look back and see that it’s still here, that would be a great feeling,” Hammer said.