Greg Jacobs was 6-foot-9 and all heart.
"He loved being on a team, being part of the guys," recalled his mother, Karen Jacobs. "He loved to play … but he was so much more into the camaraderie than the competition."
An All-America middle blocker, the UC Davis senior represented "the face of our team," said Aggies men's volleyball coach Joey Elftmann. "Everybody everywhere knew Greg."
The popular player was killed Dec. 29 in a weather-related traffic accident near Quincy on Highway 70. His girlfriend, Venessa Wilcox, was driving and lost control of the small car, which rolled over. Wilcox was unhurt, but Jacobs struck his head and died of trauma. He left behind a close-knit family of teammates and friends.
"We're all pretty much in shock," said Jesse Pedersen, Jacobs' teammate for three seasons. "No doubt, he was a huge part of our team, on and off the court.
"Honestly, this is all a little weird," he added. "At this age, we're not prepared for something like this."
Weather allowing, most of the team will fly to San Diego for Jacobs' memorial service today. A second service will be held Wednesday at UC Davis.
Jacobs, 21, grew up in San Diego as the youngest of three children. He combined an easygoing, gentle nature with quick wit that always amused.
"He had a different outlook on life," said his father, Dr. R. Scott Jacobs, an emergency room physician in San Diego. "Since age 2, he could knock me out of my chair."
Added his mother: "All his life, he would say things that were completely out of the blue, real showstoppers that made you fall over laughing."
Jacobs earned the nickname "Steed" because he could carry a team on his back, Elftmann said. "He was our horse in the middle."
The nickname became a battle cry for his team. Last year, Jacobs powered the Aggies to arguably their best season: a 35-8 record, Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League title and fifth-place standing in the nation.
"He had a real quiet confidence about him," Elftmann said. "He wasn't very outspoken, but his personality was so charismatic."
And he literally stood out in any crowd.
"He was real tall but very thin – a gangly guy with a huge heart," the coach said. "He was real fun to be around."
Combining his altruism and love of travel, Jacobs, a political science major, planned to join the Peace Corps with Wilcox after graduation. Jacobs spent the past summer touring Italy.
Dozens of postings on the Aggies' volleyball Web site saluted his devotion to friends and teammates, and the joy he brought to so many. Such traits helped the Aggies men's volleyball team, which competes as a club sport. Student-athletes must raise money to cover almost all of their team's annual $60,000 budget.
"Players are in charge of everything, from hiring coaches to scheduling games to making travel arrangements," said Elftmann, who was Jacobs' teammate before he became the coach. "These guys are spending every night, every day, every weekend together, not just playing but making this club work. It's a very intimate family-type feeling."
Said Pedersen: "(Jacobs) was a prime example of what our club stands for. Greg was exactly what we tried to make our members into."
The Aggies now look for a way to go on without their leader. Their season, which began in November with an exhibition tournament, has been interrupted by tragedy. They have a little time to heal before their next match, Jan. 26 against Santa Clara.
"We're scheduled to practice Tuesday, but right now, I don't know how," Elftmann said. "This does bring us closer together. I'd like to say everybody will be stronger for it, but I don't know how that's possible. Everyone has been pretty amazing, really."
Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 326-5514.
