"The 'Cilley-est' Game in Town" from The Exeter Bulletin, Summer 2008

CilleyBall is the only game in town for residents of Cilley Hall

“It’s the perfect sport. It rewards the right combination of athleticism, cunning, guile and selflessness,” says John Ettinger ’08. You might guess that Ettinger is referring to a major school sport like football, basketball, or lacrosse, all of which are played to great acclaim at Exeter. However, this “perfect sport” is called CilleyBall, a game played with ferocious intensity by the residents of Cilley Hall in a corner between their dorm and neighboring Amen Hall. Michael Konkol (l) and John Ettinger, '08 champions

CilleyBall is something of a cross between volleyball and doubles tennis. The diminutive “court” behind Cilley Hall is delineated by scuffed athletic tape; the Cilley ball itself is similar in size to a volleyball, but lighter and thinner.Two scarred wooden campus benches serve as a sort of tennis “net,” while also providing more aggressive competitors a ready perch for high-powered spikes. Like volleyball, players initiate play by serving the ball. The opposing team can return directly or by a set for a teammate, who can then get off a power shot or a carefully placed dink to catch the opposition out of position for the point.

The best part of the game? “It provides the perfect opportunity to show off,” says Ettinger, who served as CilleyBall dorm coordinator this spring. “Nearly every shot is offensively oriented, inviting choruses of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from passers-by. Adolescent boys love to show off.”

See more articles from The Exeter Bulletin, Summer 2008...