Volleyball fans know Melvin Stubbs as the outspoken, loud voice in the crowd. The team knows him as its biggest fan. And to coach Charita Stubbs, he’s just her supportive husband Melvin.

“Touchdown,” Melvin screams during a serve while standing with his arms up during a Nov. 2 match against Maryland. Melvin is just a dramatic volleyball fan who loves to get inside opponents’ heads.

“It’s a mind game. You can get them out of their game by just yelling different things at them,” Melvin said.

“It’s not disrespectful — it’s just a mind game. Somebody once told me that if you get into a fight with someone you should yell ‘peanut butter’ in the middle. It will mess their head up — this is what I’m trying to do.”

Playing mind games and getting to the opponent’s head is one reason why Melvin yells.

“Plus I just like to yell at them,” Stubbs said.

His powerful, recognizing voice, is heard echoing through Reynolds Coliseum during any volleyball match.

Charita, Melvin’s wife, said the team worries if he’s not yelling.

“When he’s quiet, a lot of the girls will ask me, ‘What’s wrong with Melvin? Is he here?'” she said.

The girls on the team thrive on his encouragement. According to freshman libero Lindsay Benac, Melvin can be counted on to hype up the team.

Melvin has many distinct habits during the games. He’s always outfitted in state attire and he typically sits alone — across from the team. This seat enables him to look at the girls on the beach and oversee everything.

During timeouts or in between games, he will walk around and talk to people he knows and introduce himself to the people he doesn’t.

During a game on Sunday against Boston College, Melvin turned around and said the team must reach 25 first to win.

“The thing is, if we get to 25 before the other team does, we win,” he said.

After that State went on to beat Boston College in a close third game.

“Yeah! Never give up, never give up on that ball,” he said as we was on his feet.

Stubbs’ encouragement is always well received, even when targeted at the referees or when he’s yelling at the team to keep its head in the game.

“We come from Arizona where all the fans are just like that,” Charita said. “He’s in the crowd telling everyone to get up and cheer and make some noise. And since he’s really spirited, it’s so good for him to pep up the crowd.”

During heated matches when Chartia disagrees with the referees, Melvin is constantly supportive, providing backup from the stands.

“I could pretty much do anything and my husband would back me up,” Charita said. “But he’s doing what most of the fans should be doing. Because he knows the game, he knows why I’m saying it, just to make a point that the crowd should get into it.”

Melvin isn’t just a volleyball cheerleader. He also has learned, and now loves the game. Melvin has been playing volleyball for the past four years, and coaches himself.

“I like to coach,” he said. “Everytime I say block, [the team] blocks. This isn’t a bad team, and Rita’s doing a great job.”

Overall, Charita, the fans and all the players on the volleyball team love having Melvin in the stands.

“I love him. It’s good to know that he’s got our back. Winning or losing, he’s always there,” Benac said. “He pumps me up a lot.”