PALMYRA, Pa. — Since the first time Joseph McInerney stepped on the volleyball court, he’s felt at home.
His father introduced him to the game at a young age, and since then his passion for volleyball has never wavered.
“I think I was 11 or 12 when [it was my] first time on a club team," said McInerney "Ever since then, it's been my main sport and I hope to play the rest of my life."
His playing experience wasn’t the only thing that started young; McInerney was diagnosed at the age of 4 with bilateral hearing loss. He wears hearing aids in both ears, but it’s never stopped him from chasing his dream of playing at a top level.
"I got used to them pretty fast," said McInerney "My hearing is pretty much normal with them in, and it gives me a great opportunity to compete with this team."
McInerney’s skills placed him among the best in college playing at Penn State where he led the team to a National Club Championship in 2019, and a second-place finish in 2022.
His opportunities to play competitively after college were slim, but an unexpected opportunity kept that chance alive
"I found out from a fellow coach sometime in the last two or three years that there was a deaf Olympic team," said Joey's father, John McInerney. "I didn’t even know, [but] there were tryouts for the deaf Olympic team and he suggested that it would be something that Joey would want to try out for."
Once he finished trying out over the summer, McInerney was deemed impressive enough to get the chance to play at a global level, landing a spot on the USA Deaf Men's National Team.
"After college, I thought I was done with competitive volleyball," recalled Joey. "Now, I get a chance to play indoor sixes again at a pretty high level, which I'm really excited about. I'll probably remember that day for the rest of my life."
Weekly pickup games help him stay sharp and help the athlete prepare to represent south-central Pa. on an international stage.
"It’s just been a great experience," said Joey. "I don’t know where I would be without the volleyball community."
Training camp for the USA Deaf Men's National Team begins Jan. 12, before the team plays in the World Deaf Championships next June, leading up to the Deaflympics in Nov. of 2025.