Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press

Members of a men's league play Wednesday night at Volley's. There are leagues for men, women and co-ed. There are also leagues for different skill levels.

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A crowd has gathered at Volley’s on a recent Friday evening. As teams bump, set and spike back and forth, spectators watch in the seats and bleachers lining the courts. Referee whistles can be heard over the music blaring from the bar area, where people mingle as they enjoy happy hour.

Volley’s main attraction is, obviously, the volleyball games that take place almost every night of the week. But for every person there to play a game, there’s another person who has come just to watch and socialize. Lacyne Phoenix has been coming to Volleys for years just to enjoy the atmosphere.

“It’s a nice location, it’s a nice place to hang out,” she says. “There’s a lot to look at, a lot of people.”

Ms. Phoenix and her friend, Cory Ruhnke, have spent the past two Fridays at Volley’s enjoying happy hour. The two don’t play on teams and don’t come to watch anyone in particular play, but “I always run into people I know,” Mr. Richardson says.

“Really, you come out here to run into you people you haven’t seen in a long time,” Ms. Phoenix adds.

Both say Volley’s offers better people-watching than at regular bars where “you’re just stuck in your little corner,” Mr. Richardson says. And since new teams arrive every hour, the crowd changes often. The open-air layout also lets people get outside and enjoy the nice summer weather.

Another advantage of Volley’s is the ultra-relaxed dress code. The volleyball players are in gym clothes — T-shirts and shorts — while jeans or shorts and flip-flops are the standard for spectators. This isn’t the place to come out in your Saturday night finery.

“If you come after work, you’re overdressed and it’s kind of uncomfortable,” says Telia Upshaw, “and you have to go home and change.”

Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press

Players and spectators gather around picnic tables court side and Volley's.

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While there is definitely a bar atmosphere at Volley’s, there is a family atmosphere, as well. Volley’s is one of the few places that offers something for both families and adults. People can go and have a drink with their friends, and parents can sit and watch games while their children climb and slide in the fenced-off play area.

Heather Keller has been enjoying both sides of Volley’s for about three years. She and her husband both play on teams, one together and one each individually. When one is playing, the other watches their son.

“You can come out and hang out with your friends, but you can bring your kids too,” she says. “I’ll come out with my friends who are girls, just as I’ll come when my husband plays.”

So whether you’re there to play volleyball or just sit and watch, hanging out with your friends or spending time with your family, Volley’s offers a fun, casual atmosphere for it.

“It’s a nice play to come, relax, have fun and just unwind from the daily grind,” Mrs. Keller says.

Serve’s up

Where: Volley’s, 211 N. 36th St.

Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Sundays through Fridays. Volley’s is closed this week; the summer session begins on Monday, July 7.

Lifestyles reporter Lacey Storer can be e-mailed at lstorer@npgco.com