George Mason Athletics is recognizing and celebrating 50 years of men's volleyball during the 2025 season. Over the course of the next few weeks, leading up to the 50th-anniversary celebration. A series of Q&As, stories, and social media posts will reflect and celebrate the players and coaches who have built the Patriots men's volleyball program into what it is today.
Kevin Colgate (1973-1975), Bill Bergstrom (1988-93), and three time All-EIVA Scott Metcalf (1988-1992) reflect on their time as Patriots.
- What years were you at George Mason? What was your major? Your position?
Metcalf: 1988(redshirt year) – 1992
Bergstrom: 1988- 1993/ Political science/ setter
Colgate: 1973-1975 BS Business. Also baseball player, women's basketball, women's volleyball first coach. Worked closely with 'Hap'
- Why George Mason?
Metcalf: Not many college coaches recruiting from MD back in the day but I played with Chris Graf the younger brother of Scott Graf and word got out that I was a very raw but interesting project. Coach Stalick actually watched my HS Co-Ed team win the MoCo championships.
Bergstrom: Wanted to play volleyball and was interested in going east for college. Was intrigued about Washington DC
Colgate: Regional business focused degree offerings. Baseball program. Older student coming back.
- When did you start playing volleyball and why?
Metcalf: I grew up a soccer player but when I started growing I quickly moved from forward->midfield->defender->to Goalie. I needed a new sport and my older sisters played volleyball so I gave that shot in the 10th grade.
Colgate: 1973 after permanent pitching arm injuries... Met Wayne.
Bergstrom: Started playing on the beach at a young age and realized that I had a better chance to play VB in college than basketball when I started high school
- What do you remember most about your coaching staff?
Metcalf: I was there through the transition years between Coach Stalick and Coach Shayka. So many great memories from doing odd jobs as a freshman at Coach Stalick's house (while the Mike S/Greg K played ping pong) to earn a few dollars. For some odd reason I remember Coach Shayka played fantasy baseball and named his team Team Shayka-legs. Coach Graf, Coach Sepulveda, Coach Colchao were also asst coaches that left a mark on me.
Bergstrom: Coaches got along with the players and were close to the players. We had to be close because we had some LONG bus rides that forced us to hang out with each other and get to know each other
Colgate: Wayne and the Club Team of '74 was excellent.
- What is your strongest volleyball memory (good or otherwise) from your time at Mason?
Metcalf: 1988 I was a freshman and the team was in Toronto for a preseason tournament. This was common then for US teams to play Canadian teams in our pre-season which was their mid-season. Anyway, we were playing a good Toronto team and I witnessed one of the many moments UV took over. One play sticks in my mind to this day that was an out of system bang bang play and outside set to UV that was 5 feet outside the antenna. UV took a sideways approach, jumped out of the gym and crushed that ball the craziest angle you've ever seen to their 4ft line WITH HIS LEFT HAND.
Colgate: Well as a player improving over time as a relative novice. As a coach ... Ibid above?
Bergstrom: Our teams were friends and we usually played like it with great victories over several prominent west coast teams. We were never intimidated by them and the word was out that when we played those schools, they had to be ready because we played hard.
- Describe your team in one-word
Metcalf: Ceiling-Press
Colgate: Emerging
Bergstrom: Fun
- Advice for young volleyball players?
Metcalf: 1.Learn to play for the love of the game, not parents, friends, coaches, etc.
2.Work harder than everyone else in the gym.
Colgate: Touch the ball and play doubles whenever possible.... Skill development
Bergstrom: Develop an all around game - don't just focus on one position because your parent or some coach said that is what you should do, etc
- Have you stayed involved in the game of volleyball in any way?
Metcalf: Yes, play at adult nationals from time to time and have coached club and high school teams. I have 3 boys and introduced them to the sport and coached a dozen years of their VB teams.
Colgate: Yes, MBA at GWU after GMU coached women and founded men's club. Title IX arrived big time in late '76 (my graduating year) and AD asked me to find 7 full scholarship players for the next year. Played in California where I live for 45 years. Met my wife in '80 and finished 4th of 30 teams in reverse co-ed tourney '83 grass.
Bergstrom: I am now a volunteer assistant coach for my son's high school team. I had three yellow cards for sideline conduct last season. Big surprise to my GM teammates and coaches who played with me at the time
- Can you catch us up on what you are doing now?
Metcalf: Live in LA, Work leading a Customer Success Org for a company called People.ai. Married a USC volleyballe player who ended up a Dr. 3 boys, lots of coaching and trying to stay as close as I can to my GMU playing weight.
Colgate: Very active sports low impact etc... Retired 10 years from 35 years in Software game and last 10 years deeply embedded in All volunteer lifelong learning group at local Community College
Bergstrom: I manage a healthcare company that owns surgery centers and community healthcare facilities in Los Angeles.
- What is your proudest life accomplishment?
Metcalf: Watching my kids grow into better versions of myself.
Colgate: Learning to stay resilient & persistent
Bergstrom: Working as a white house appointee and/or creating a program that provided medical support for thousands of US Veterans
