Jerry Strub, A Legend Retires from Running Middle Hitter
In 2005 Jerry Strub found a void in boys and men’s volleyball where athletes were not getting the recognition they deserved online. He started www.middlehitter.com 20 years ago and it has evolved into a volleyball hub with a wealth of information.
Strub was inspired to start the website after his son completed his high school and club volleyball career. He found that there was a lack of information about men’s volleyball and sought a way to create free resources for those wanting to know what was available.
Out in Chicago, Strub was a full-time businessman, and there was a lot of travel that came with his job. While in airports Strub would be found updating his website with articles, high school athletes committing to college programs and informing viewers on college scores. During the season Strub would spend ten to twelve hours a week updating the site.
Over the years athletes, coaches, and club directors checked out the website to get volleyball updates. Head Coach Dan Friend of Lewis University was a big fan of the website and found himself checking in on a weekly basis. “Jerry has done such great growth for men’s volleyball when honestly there wasn’t very many media sources paying much attention, people like Jerry are instrumental in helping move the needle on our sport,” said Friend.
At the beginning stages of Middle Hitter Strub listed the men’s team news and had a drop-down menu of all of the college teams that had varsity programs. He created a database of coaches and SID’s and asked them to send their news articles so they could be released on Middle Hitter. As time progressed Strub added Olympic, FIVB World/Nations League and a college commitment page.
For 19 years Strub took his passion for volleyball and ran Middle Hitter for free. Throughout the years there was many incredible moments, but the most fulfilling for Strub was when he received e-mails from the Middle Hitter fans. “My thanks always came from the student-athletes, coaches at the college, club and high school levels and parents who were assisting their student-athletes in researching the next step in our sport. I receive a kind note almost weekly,” said Strub.
Strub has given me the pleasure and opportunity to take over Middle Hitter. My goal is to maintain what Strub has established for 19 years. With a new set of eyes running the site I hope to add a few more features that will bring Middle Hitter to greater heights. I am extremely grateful that Jerry Strub has provided me the honor and instilled confidence in me to take over. When college volleyball coaches caught wind that I was running the site Coach David Kniffin simply wrote to me, “You got big shoes to fill.” Jerry Strub, thanks for dedicating 19 years to covering our wonderful sport. You were a pioneer and created a site that will continue. My goal is to continue to maintain the standard you have set for Middle Hitter and make you proud.
