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Dave Sutko opened Spike’s Beach Bar and Grille in 2005 with the hopes of spreading awareness for the sport of volleyball, especially for men.

His journey from collegiate baseball player to professional volleyball player led him to build a business that’s become a staple for volleyball players and fans in Lincoln. Originally, he thought the sport was “for girls,” but the more Sutko learned about volleyball, the more he fell in love with it.  

“For the boys in Nebraska, you know, we are shown that you play football, you wrestle, you play basketball, baseball, all those things where volleyball was not even an option,” Sutko said.

Sutko was a walk-on for the Husker baseball team during his first year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and majored in political science and English. After he stopped playing baseball, he said he quickly felt the boredom that came along with the transition. 

Sutko entered the elevator in Harper Hall at UNL when a member of the men’s club volleyball team asked him how baseball was going. When Sutko told the volleyball player he was no longer playing baseball, the player encouraged Sutko to try out for the men’s volleyball team. 

He originally turned down the offer and cited that volleyball was “for girls.”

Sutko said that, straight out of insanity and boredom, he showed up to Mabel Lee Fields and tried out for the volleyball team. He said he was terrible at first, but he worked on some skills with the coach and quickly came around to the sport. 

“I was like ‘Oh, this is so much fun,’” Sutko said. “I fell in love with it.” 

Then, at 19 years old, Sutko built four courts near Highway 77 and West Van Dorn behind the Prospector Steakhouse. He said he was ecstatic to have 30 teams sign up for his spring volleyball league. 

As his business grew, Sutko opened 10 more courts at the Nebraska State Fair park. Eight years later in 2004, he closed both of these locations to build Spike’s, an 8000 square foot sports bar with 12 outdoor courts and four indoor courts. Sutko called it a “calculated risk,” and acknolwedged the competition in the area. 

He said that he simply coexisted with Nebraska State Fair Park and Prospector Steakhouse. Sutko said he was the “volleyball guy.” Spike’s was the first time he was in charge of not only volleyball, but food and alcohol as well, which he said he knew nothing about. 

“I don't want to say failure is not an option,” Sutko said. “I'm going to nose-down and I'm just going to grind it out.”

Sutko also found investors and business partners who had experience in the business world to contribute to operating Spike’s. For example, he said one of his partners has a law degree and is a certified public accountant.

After he joined the men’s team, Sutko played professional two-man beach doubles in the AVP and MVP volleyball tours. He played professionally from 1993-1996, and then intermittently until 2003, when he played his last tournament. 

Sutko continued to play in competitive recreational tournaments and earned notable achievements such as winning the King of the Beach tournament in Destin, FL in 2008. 

As Sutko bounced from California to Florida to Texas to Arizona, he realized that he missed Nebraska and its small-town qualities. 

Sutko said he loves the kindness and consideration that comes with living in Nebraska. He enjoys the overall feeling that Nebraskans help each other out, say hello and hold the door open.

“I love the calmness,” Sutko said. “I love our sunsets. I love our farmers. I love everything that Nebraska provides. I love it when people say Nebraska is a flyover state. Please do just fly over.”

Sutko said while he played professionally, he realized he was good enough to play at that level, but probably wasn’t good enough to make a career out of it. So, Sutko decided he would rather pursue the business avenue of volleyball and try to generate more teams at home in Lincoln. 

“The cool part of it is, it's a sport anyone can play, even if you're terrible at volleyball, you can just get out there with friends and family and co-workers and go have fun,” Sutko said.

Paul Johnson was 21 years old the first time he played in a league. Like many young men, Johnson didn’t have the opportunity to play organized volleyball as he was growing up aside from a couple weeks in P.E. 

Johnson has played in leagues at Spike’s since it opened. He said at Spike’s, he was able to learn from players who had the training and experience that he didn’t. 

“Getting my ass kicked by better players legitimately made me a better player,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that Spike’s men’s six on six leagues have helped him as a player, and their existence has improved men's volleyball skills in Lincoln. He also said that as he’s gotten older, his performance became less important and he grew to appreciate the social aspect more. 

Sutko said he enjoys that volleyball is a sport anyone can play. With six players covering a small amount of ground, it’s easy to make adjustments that allow success and inclusivity within the game. 

Spike’s now offers indoor men’s leagues, women’s leagues and coed leagues during the winter. They also have coed sand leagues throughout the summer and into fall. Spike’s leagues are open to a wide range of ages, with their website stating if you can drive to Spike’s, you can play at Spike’s. 

Generations of families have the opportunity to play together at the restaurant, a shared experience Sutko holds with his daughter. He recalled that even though he played all around the country, one of his greatest accomplishments is playing in the Bash at the Beach coed doubles tournament with his daughter when she was 15 years old. 

All three of Sutko’s children play volleyball. His two sons played for the High Flyers men’s volleyball club, and his daughter played for Volleyball Club Nebraska, both in Lincoln. 

Sutko called Nebraska the mecca of volleyball, referencing the record-breaking Husker volleyball game that took place at Memorial Stadium and the success of the Nebraska volleyball program overall. He feels fortunate to call Nebraska home for his family and his business, and that he gets to promote the sport of volleyball for women and men in Nebraska.

Sutko began his first volleyball session with 30 teams and two courts. Last year, 2,200 teams participated in volleyball leagues at Spike’s. This year, Spike’s turned 20 years old, and according to Sutko, it’s not just hanging in there, it’s thriving.