Digging Up Men’s Volleyball’s ‘happy go lucky’ JJ Sowa

Men’s volleyball’s fourth-year libero JJ Sowa is known not just for his volleyball skills on the court but for his positive, people-loving personality. 

His teammate, fourth-year setter Ryan McElligott expressed how Sowa’s personality shines in all aspects of life. 

“He’s just a fun, loving guy,” McElligott said. “He’s always happy. Always brings a lighter mood to the gym. I can’t imagine Loyola without him.” 

A native of Orange, Calif., Sowa’s been playing volleyball since sixth grade, when he joined his middle school’s club volleyball team. 

Although having played baseball all his life leading up to high school, Sowa found a love for volleyball. He still wasn’t set on continuing to play in high school until his eighth grade coach encouraged him to look into it. 

Heeding her advice, he took a volleyball camp at his now alma mater, Mater Dei High School. He fell in love with the team, the coaches and the sport more than he ever imagined and has been all in on volleyball ever since. 

When it was time for him to decide on his next four years, Sowa recalled how great the 2014 and 2015 Loyola men’s volleyball team was and said he saw the potential of reaching the same standard with the guys the program was recruiting. 

Along with seeing the potential within the program, Sowa was also intrigued by Loyola’s physical therapy program he’s now part of. On a visit with his mother to campus, Sowa remembered the moment he knew Loyola was it for him. 

“My mom said that every building I walked into I was like the happiest little kid ever,” Sowa said. “So that was my immediate kind of knowing, ‘I’m gonna go here.’” 

Since that visit and joining the Loyola community as a student athlete, Sowa has been at Loyola for all four years of his college career. He attributes his desire to stay to his teammates and the continued closeness the team shares every year, no matter the circumstances. 

Sowa explained the team’s ability to come together and be friends despite their different backgrounds. During his formative years in college, Sowa has grown and learned a lot both on and off the court. 

As an underclassman, the Loyola men’s volleyball program was under the helm of a different coaching staff. During this time, Sowa said he went under the wings of former assistant head coach Ali’i Keohohou. 

With the help of Keohohou, Sowa learned to not be a perfectionist during practices, to embrace the level of competition at the college level and learn how to respond to that level. 

Sowa said never straying from who he is as a person has been one of the most valuable lessons he’s learned during his time at Loyola. 

“I think I’m a guy who has a lot of energy,” Sowa said. “I think everyone sees that on the court, but then also making time to make sure I’m good for myself.” 

Making sure he’s well and ready both mentally and emotionally on and off the court is especially important for Sowa, as he was picked by his teammates to lead them as one of the captains for the 2026 season. 

With this role, Sowa has been challenged by the new coaching staff to be a voice for the team, even as a player who won’t lead the team on the stats sheet. 

“It’s kind of hard as a libero,” Sowa said. “I’m not the one jumping and getting kills and making unreal blocks, but I think I make a difference with my voice and leading on the court in that aspect and also in the practice gym.” 

Head coach Shane Davis described Sowa as the “glue guy” for the team in an interview with a men’s volleyball social media influencer, jmtvball, prior to the start of the season. 

When asked about appointing the title to Sowa, Davis quickly attested Sowa’s talkative nature and ability to fill a room as key factors of his leadership role. 

McElligott said Sowa isn’t only the “glue guy” on the court but also off it. According to McElligott, Sowa’s the one planning team events and making sure the squad stays together off the court. 

Sowa credits the “glue guy” title as the person he wishes to embrace for the team 

“The libero, not the most flashy,” Sowa said. “But if I can make my presence known for the guys in the best way possible, then I would love to do that.” 

Davis noted the growth in maturity in Sowa since taking over as head coach. He said the biggest change he’s seen in Sowa was him finding ways to regulate his emotions and be a more consistent presence on the court and in his personal life. 

Sowa is aware of how he’s doing emotionally and has taken feedback from coaches and applied it to be the best teammate and captain for his team, according to Davis.  

McElligott said he’s seen Sowa grow and change as a person and player for the past four years. He emphasized the maturity and confidence Sowa’s gained over the past four years in both his personal and athletic life. 

Former men’s volleyball outside hitters Parker Van Buren and Evan Markworth were the best examples and role models of how to fulfill the captain role, according to Sowa. Sowa’s taken on the responsibility of making sure everyone is happy, not just playing well. 

Outside of the game, Sowa said he’s working hard in the classroom, studying exercise science. Last season, he received the All-MIVA Academic award for his efforts both on the court and in the classroom. 

After attending physical therapy after a knee strain in seventh grade, Sowa fell in love with the profession. He said his desire to use his “happy-go-lucky” personality to help people with century-old physical therapy techniques is something he’s become fascinated with. 

This happy-go-lucky attitude Sowa encapsulates stems back to a saying his mom told him, “If you spend time thinking about being angry, you’re spending your time doing that. So why do that?”

Sowa lives by his mother’s words and looks to see the good in everything, including the people he meets. 

“Whenever I meet people, I’d never judge them,” Sowa said. “I always love them for who they are, and so I think it’s constantly like thinking about the other people that you’re around.” 

Sowa said he finds comfort in knowing rough times will pass, and he just has to get through them. Staying true to himself during these rough patches in his life has been a great way for him to maintain his positive and happy self. 

As an upperclassman, Sowa said he’s grateful to be enrolled in major-specific courses that pique his interest. He and his mother would often have talks as an underclassman about getting through the core requirements to get to the point where he is at now. 

In his exercise science classes, he’s seen great growth as a student due to his vision for his future of attending physical therapy school. He’s taking the opportunity now to learn what he can to prepare him for his next steps. 

After graduation, Sowa plans to stay in the Midwest and take a gap year, finding a job in an outpatient clinic. He hopes to also coach club volleyball while awaiting to apply to physical therapy school. 

Looking back at his four years, Sowa offers some advice to incoming freshmen: Branch out immediately. 

Sowa said he’s found people outside of volleyball who’ve made him who he is at Loyola, especially with his exercise science friends. He added advice his mother would give him: “Be who you are, and go out and meet people because you’ll find your people.” 

Despite being a people person, Sowa said he enjoys his time alone and loves to cook. He has a deep passion for discovering new music of all genres, including his favorite genre, EDM and even country, which he’s grown to like during his time in the Midwest. 

McElligott added that Sowa likes DJing and loves EDM, even attending festivals and concerts to see DJs. Sowa even helped create the pregame playlist with redshirt second-year middle blocker Gavin O’Brien. 

Those who have seen Sowa on the court could pick up on his love for music, but one fact that may surprise fans is Sowa is an only child, and according to McElligott and Davis, just like as the team’s captain, he fits that role perfectly. 

Although being an only child, Sowa has a deep sense of gratitude for his teammates at Loyola. 

“It’s been the best thing that I think has ever happened to me so far in my life, very early in my life” Sowa said. “I’m so thankful for it and for everyone that I’ve ever met.”