In 1998 when art teacher and boys volleyball coach Jef Wind came to the school, "the volleyball culture was terrible, and the boys team barely existed," he says.

Wind wanted to create a place for players and students to play outside of volleyball practice in the gym, but he never imagined it would be such an uphill battle.

Once he designed the plans for sand volleyball court, he had to get the project approved by the district, state, school and school's sports program.

"It was hectic," he says. "It took four years and part of it was red tape."

During the four years it took to finish the project, more than 100 students helped fundraise and dig 100 pounds of sand. Students raised $20,000 through T-shirt sales, serve-a-thons, car washes and outside donations, Wind says.

Morrow says although the parents got behind the idea, the effort was student-led. Her daughter spent a whole Saturday digging in the sand and cementing the poles.

"Everything that you see was built by students," junior Jenna Morrow says.

Setbacks, however, did come, including a promise for materials that were never donated. And at one point the district stepped in and said if the project wasn't completed in two weeks the district would bulldoze it, but later backed down, Morrow says.

Wind says when the going got tough it was the students, especially the boys' volleyball team that "wouldn't let it die."

Alumnus Kyle Smith, who comes to play pick-up games after school, says he never had doubts the students would accomplish their goal. Even though he graduated last year, he still comes out to play with friends.

"Honestly, it increases their interest and creates passion for the sport," art teacher and assistant volleyball coach Eric Stachnick says.

Stachnick remembers four years ago when he and Wind took the boys team to the beach over spring break to practice, and after seeing their improvement, it became "Jef's dream to bring that to Willow Glen," he says.

Wind says that conditioning off-season at the sand court has yielded stronger players.

"I guarantee that you jump in the sand for five months, you're going to jump out of the court," he says. "We're the only school in the district that has a professional sand volleyball court."

Smith says playing on the sand court had a radical effect on his game: "When I came out my junior year I didn't play much, but senior year I was a starter," he says.

"It makes you a lot quicker with footwork," senior Justin Curry says.

Because of the sand court, Stachnick says the rate at which the coaches can develop newer players has increased tremendously.

While the sand courts have enhanced the play level of both the girls and boys volleyball teams, they have has also generated a positive impact beyond the team sport, Morrow says.

"Kids on the fringe, who might be getting in trouble, are now really interested in volleyball," she says.

She adds it also builds community when students from other countries who don't speak English can play with their fellow classmates and teachers.

"It's brought people together, and people are in there playing all the time," she says.

Wind says the court has become a safe meeting place for students after school.

The students and teachers got a scare earlier in the year when rumors abounded that the district considered removing the court for a new bus-turnaround. But in October the district said the sand courts would not be affected.