Who set this up?

By Jay Seidel, On-line Forty-Niner

February 12,1998

During Valentine's Day, love and romance fill the air, new relationships are formed and old ones are usually strengthened. College campuses provide an opportune place to find a match and college athletes are not immune to Cupid's arrows.

At Cal State Long Beach, there are a plethora of athletic romances, but none quite like that of Misty May, women's volleyball team setter, and Chris Seiffert, the setter for the men's volleyball team. "People think it's cute," May said of comments about the opposing-sex team couple. Seiffert laughs, "Yeah, but it's getting a little old."

The two started dating about a year ago when Seiffert was a freshman and May was a sophomore. However, it was not the first time Seiffert had seen May. He went to go see her play while still in high school. "I heard stories of Misty May, and I just had to go see for myself," Seiffert said. "I noticed we wore the same shoes."

But the two did not meet face-to-face until Seiffert came to CSULB. "We talked a little because the men's and women's teams hang out a lot together," Seiffert said. May said she already had a big crush on him. The two athletes actually started talking when May ran into him in the library.

"He's my best friend, so I can spend all my time with him."

­ Misty May,

women's volleybal setter

"She helped me with my homework," Seiffert said laughing. "I lent him my copy card." May said "But I forgot to get it back, so I would have to see him again."

The two continued talking and sending e-mails, until May made the first move. "I asked him out over the internet, because he was shy," May admitted. During the couple's first date, they saw "Liar Liar." "We kept it simple," Seiffert said. "Jamba Juice and a movie."

With that start, the relationship began. The two spend a lot of time together.They combine their volleyball skill and compete leagues on the beach. "We play volleyball together in coed leagues, and won a coed open," Seiffert said.

The two spend time away from the court as well. "She drags me places," Seiffert said. "I'm a stay at home movie kind of guy, and she likes to go out." "We have fun just doing nothing sometimes, just talking," May said. "We cook dinner for each other sometimes."

Although the two have different personalities they still get along. "We complement each other," Seiffert said. "She's trying to pump me up and I'm trying to calm her down."

As collegiate athletes the pair are fierce competitors on the court. As boyfriend and girlfriend the two are a loving couple. "He's my best friend," May said. "So I can spend all my time with him."