Photo Courtesy of Frank Poulin/Dean College
There are lots of promising volleyball athletes, but one sticks out above the rest. Last Thursday, Hunter Armitage, the men’s volleyball setter for Dean College, shared his unique experiences with the sport that catapulted his college career.
Armitage is similar to most college students: he loves to play video games and hang out with friends after a long day at school. However, volleyball remains his “number one hobby,” as his passion for the game is unmatched.
His love for the sport started when he saw his dad play “Beach Fours” against his friends. Once Armitage joined in on the game and was mesmerized by the skills of his father, the rest was history.
“I started to go to clinics to learn how to play” explained Armitage, until he was good enough to play in the big leagues. When asked about his high school career, Armitage said that “By my senior year of high school, me and my team made it to the state finals, but we unfortunately did not win.”
Since coming to Dean College, Armitage achieved a multitude of accomplishments as a setter for the men’s volleyball team. During his 2023 season, he set a total of 257 assists and 54 kills, which are statistics that have been hard to match among his teammates.
Mark Ledwich, the men’s volleyball coach for Dean College, praised Armitage’s contributions to the team. When asked about his thoughts on Armitage’s skills and personality traits, Ledwich stated that “Hunter is extremely passionate about volleyball, yet he’s a calm-and-collected player. The only two things he talks about are volleyball and [Hunter’s girlfriend] Nina.”
His confidence heading into Dean was not boosted right away, as Armitage was once overwhelmed by the college atmosphere. “We continue to build him as sort of a leader, and he’s now one of our oldest and most experienced players” says Ledwich. “He’s led the team in his own way, even though he’s not listed as the team captain.”
Volleyball is a series of highs and lows, but Armitage has his own way of maintaining motivation for the sport. “As long as I go out there with the intention of having fun, then I can get myself out of those lows” states Armitage. “I’ve been working on keeping a smile on my face, as I play better when I’m happy.”
When asked about who his inspirations are, Armitage has a high level of respect for America’s National Volleyball Team. “They’re the number two ranked team in the world, and I’d love to make it there one day.”
To show support for Hunter Armitage and his team, be sure to visit the Dean Bulldogs Website to stay updated on the Men’s Volleyball schedule. Their next game is at 11 AM on February 24th against Vermont State University at the Pieri Gym.
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