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Will Price and Mik Berzins are two of the finest student-athletes to ever to graduate from a Montgomery County high schools, but you may have never heard of them.

The reason why? They played co-ed or boys volleyball for their respective prep programs. Unlike their female counterparts, the MPSSAA does not recognize the sport at the state level. Meanwhile, Montgomery County Public Schools fields sponsors the only scholastic-relatedschool teams in the state.

On Saturday, Price (Gaithersburg, Class of 2005), a senior starting opposite hitter for the Pennsylvania State University's men's volleyball team, ended his collegiate career with a loss to Stanford (Calif.) University in the NCAA Division I national championship match. Berzins (Sherwood '08), a sophomore starting libero at the Ohio State University, wrapped up his season on Thursday, as the Buckeyes fell to the Cardinal in the national semifinals.

"I cried like a baby on Thursday night watching them," said Blake head coach Leigh Tinsley, who coached Price's co-ed team at Gaithersburg. "It's been amazing watching William go from a 14-year- old boy driving me crazy to playing on the big stage. ...

"I'm so happy because it is kind of rare for a Maryland product [to play major- collegiate volleyball]. They are so talented, but were probably overlooked and had to work much harder at the recruiting process since the sport isn't as big of a deal here as it is in the Midwest and out West."

Added Price: "On a yearly basis, [Penn State] is as good as any West Coast team. The best talent on the East Coast goes to Penn State. ... [West Coast schools] see us beat teams they are losing to. Our travel schedule gives us an opportunity to [remove the East Coast stereotype]."

While they suited up each spring for their high school teams, their Price's and Berzins' most extensive youth volleyball work came with the state's 24-year- old boys club team,: the Maryland Volleyball Program (MVP).

MVP fields several youth teams that compete in numerous local, regional and national tournaments. One of the squads is coached by Berzins' father, Aldis, who was an All-American at Ohio State in the mid-1970s and member of the 1984 United States Olympic gold medal team.

"I remember guys on our team driving in from two hours away for practice," Price said. "We were playing in a lot of adult tournaments since there was no local boys junior stuff around. Weekend after weekend we'd get crushed by men as 14-, 15-,. 16-year olds. ... Playing older and more experienced people definitely helped us in the long run."

The 6-foot-5 Price's background has helped him blossom into one of the finest volleyball players in the country. After initially attending George Mason (Va.) University, he transferred to State College prior to the 2008 season. In 2009, he was named a first- team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and trained with USA Volleyball.

"[Mason] wasn't the college atmosphere I was really looking for," said Price, who paced the Nittany Lions with 499 kills this season. "It wasn't a football school and not college town. ... Penn State was just an easy fit because my brother was there and I got to know a bunch of guys from playing on the national team."

Meanwhile, the 6-2 Berzins, who also has played for the junior A2 national team, has settled in nicely in Columbus despite changing positions from outside hitter to libero earlier in the year.

"It's pretty natural for me," said Berzins, who led the Buckeyes with 232 digs. "Defense and passing are my strongest fields."

Both hail from volleyball families and started playing early. Price's older siblings, Andrew and Amy, attended Penn State and played on the TrojansGaithersburg's co-ed team together. Meanwhile, Berzins' brothers, Kris (Loyola University-Chicago) and Dainis, a senior at Sherwood, also play.

"My dad played club volleyball in college and continued to play," Price said. "There are pictures of me sitting in a stroller [at volleyball matches]. ... It was a sibling thing."

Added Berzins: "[It was] mostly just the competitive nature of the sport [that was attractive]. ... It just seemed right to continue to play volleyball."

While Berzins will return for two more collegiate seasons, Price plans to continue his volleyball career overseas in Europe and possibly play in the Olympics.

"I'm avoiding the real world," Price said. "As long as my body holds up. ... I got another 10, 12 years playing professionally."