Greek LifeSports

Sigala stays active setting his future

Senior Jason Sigala has been involved with the ULV community for the last four years by playing men's volleyball, working on ASF, being active in Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and IFSC. / photo by Melissa A. Collett
Senior Jason Sigala has been involved with the ULV community for the last four years by playing men’s volleyball, working on ASF, being active in Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and IFSC. / photo by Melissa A. Collett

by Christie Reed
Staff Writer

What force could convince a person to shave his head entirely––shock value? For senior Jason Sigala, it was the power of team spirit.

It was a Friday afternoon in his sophomore year, right before a big volleyball match against the University of California, San Diego. While the team was sitting around in its hotel room, resting before the game, somebody came up with what sounded like a clever idea at the time. A player announced, ”Let’s shave our heads!”

According to Sigala, “It was a team effort.” They all gathered in the hotel’s bathroom, grabbed some Bic’s and shaved each other’s heads.

“The coach was in shock when we walked on the court. We were so fired up that we trounced all over UCSD,” he said.

This is only one instance of teamwork at play in volleyball star Jason Sigala’s ULV life.

“One person cannot do it by himself, especially on the court. Volleyball is the biggest team sport. There are no standouts,” said Sigala. “Almost every single player during the course of the game touches the ball. Someone has to set and someone has to pass.”

Sigala has been on the ULV volleyball team for four years now, and is the only four-year player on the Division I non-scholarship team. What he loves most about being a team player is the challenge of being a small university in Division I. They play against the top teams in the nation, including Hawaii State, Brigham Young and Pepperdine.

The men’s volleyball team is halfway through its season and Sigala is impressed by its performance so far, although he admits not knowing the team’s current record; it is not important to him.

“Since we are such a young team, we’re struggling, but it’s fun,” he said.

Sigala had never played on a school volleyball team until he came to ULV, because his high school did not have a team. Whenever possible, he would play for a local league or travel with the coach, assisting and learning by watching her techniques. This was when Sigala realized he wanted an opportunity to play the sport in college.

Sigala plays outside hitter on the team, and although he does not want to brag about his performance, Head Coach Don Flora is willing to do it for him.

“Throughout the year, Sigala has played a major role as the team’s energy boost and positive presence,” said Flora.

In the past four years, the team has undergone major changes and Sigala is the only senior that has stuck with the program for four years.

“That is a tribute to him,” claims Flora. “He remained focused while our team developed from infancy into a strong college team. He has always been there.”

Flora took a moment to reflect upon Sigala’s active nature and stated, “ULV is a place of a lot of extracurricular opportunity and Jason has taken advantage of them all.”

According to Sigala, teamwork does not only take place in athletics; it also takes place in his other extracurricular activities. Besides volleyball, Sigala is also actively involved in the Inter-Fraternity Sorority Council (IFSC). The IFSC is the governing body that coordinates all Greek activities, promotes unity among fraternities and sororities, and serves as an educational resource for the Greek system. As president of the organization, he plans conferences and retreats, creates pamphlets and sponsors activities.

“I like being IFSC president because now I can help all Greeks, not just those in my chapter,” said Sigala.

The chapter that Sigala is referring to is Delta Sigma Phi, which he boasts “is the best.” He currently remains an active member and in previous years held the positions of treasurer and president. Due to time constraints, he let the frat take a back seat to IFSC, volleyball and, most importantly, his senior project.

The, project, which is required by all ULV students in order to graduate, is on the top of Sigala’s busy list. Once again he has come up with a unique idea, one that was created from all his experience creating and coordinating with IFSC and Delta Sigma Phi.

Sigala is in the middle of creating a 55-question personality test, with 11 different sections, to be distributed to 10 Division I and 10 Division III volleyball teams from various colleges and universities. The goal of the test is to determine which division places more stress on performance, thus leading to frazzled players. This theme falls right into his physical education major. Sigala has already come up with an hypothesis which he wants to keep to himself until he can prove it correct.

When Sigala has some free time on his hands, he does not vegetate in his apartment getting much-deserved rest, but instead prefers to turn his free time into “play time.” He will work out, play ball with some friends, or go running; anything to keep him active and on the go.

Looking optimistically toward his graduation this year, Sigala has nothing to fear about entering the “real” world. He already has a job waiting for him, one where traveling is in the job description. After applying through Delta Sigma Phi, he was hired as Traveling Leadership Consultant in the South-East Region of the United States. His duties will include visiting Greek chapters throughout the region and implementing and evaluating programs. The two-year temporary job will station him in regional and national headquarters in Alabama and Indiana. He will spend most of the time traveling to and from schools, but it will not be all hard work. Sigala looks forward to going to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga.

Sigala feels he is fortunate to have such an opportunity fresh out of ULV, but credits the school with always providing him with all the help and support that he has needed. Since his job will require only a two-year commitment, Sigala will still be able to attend graduate school and obtain his masters in athletic administration, and already has an impressive resume.

Since he believes whole-heartedly in the philosophy “the more involved you are, the happier,” he can only see his future as promising and thanks ULV and all of his “teammates” for the head start on the rest of his life.

Christie Reed
Other Stories Bio
Melissa A. Collett
Other Stories Bio
Previous article
Golf bogies in 3-team match
Next article
Dark clouds dampen softball game

Latest Stories

Related articles

Greek Life

‘Blooming with Sisterhood’ answers recruits’ questions

The University of La Verne College Panhellenic Association held “Blooming with Sisterhood” Sept. 2 in the Quay Davis Executive Boardroom, bringing in around 25 students hoping to learn more about the organization.
LV Life

Fair promotes student involvement

The student engagement office hosted a fall Involvement Fair Wednesday in the Abraham Campus Center. 
LV Life

Homecoming stretches across entire campus

The University’s annual homecoming festivities began with a 5K run on Saturday that started on the Citrus Lawn, next was the street fair on C and Second streets in front of the Campus Center, then the Mission Brewing pre-game party in the Quad. The evening ended with  the Homecoming football game 
Sports

Leopards beat familiar face in season opener

The Leopards’ women’s volleyball team secured an opening day victory Friday with a 3-0 sweep of the Southwestern Pirates, who are led by legendary former La Verne coach Don Flora.