Tim Duncan, Jimmy Graham, and Moopark’s own Michael Esper all have one thing in common, they all waited until high school to start playing their sport. Duncan and Graham did not start playing basketball or football until high school and Raiders Volleyball outside hitter followed the same path.

Esper did not play for a club volleyball team like most of his teammates. Instead, he started playing at Los Angeles Baptist High School his freshman year.

“I played for fun in middle school, but that was nothing serious,” said Esper. “It’s in high school that I really started playing.”

The road for Esper has not always been at this high level. Entering college, and coming from a relatively small school for volleyball, Esper was immediately challenged at try-outs. His freshman year at Moorpark, he feel short of making the team but continued to develop his skills in the off season and was able to make the team the next year. Now in his third year of college (sophomore season) he leads by example on the court.

The 20-year-old sophomore is now co-captain of the Raiders and leads the team in kills by a long shot. He currently plays outside hitter, and provides energy and a spark to the team with his aggressive kills.

“He’s clearly our best hitter,” said Jamal Balkhi, another co-captain of the team. “He just needs to accept he’s our best hitter, and needs to be cocky.”

Chris Foster a spectator at the Men’s Volleyball home games thinks “Mikey” is the most exciting player on the Raiders squad to watch. Esper creates exciting plays with his hustle and tenacity which keeps the Raider faithful attending the games.

“He has been a rock for us all season,” said first-year head coach Aaron Hedland. “The only problem with that is players on the other side of the net are starting to notice.”

Esper looks to continue his play at the next level, and is considering Cal Lutheran University, or San Diego State. He is a kinesiology major and looks to be in sports therapy in the future.

Esper enjoys watching volleyball and basketball, noting his favorite player is Derrick Rose while Kobe Bryant comes in at number two on the list. Despite this order the current basketball shoes he owns are Kobe high tops, and admits he has a Bryant Jersey hanging in his room.

For now, Mikey needs to invest in some shades because his future is looking awfully bright.