12/21/24
May 02, 2003
The NCAA Vollyball Championship will be played in Long Beach, California on May 3 between BYU and Lewis.: College Volleyball doesn't seem to receive the same coverage as other major college sports, even though it is quite popular on the United States' west coast. Indeed, in Hawaii, where Greece's Costas Theocharidis was recently named AVCA Player of the Year, it seems to be just as popular as NCAA Basketball. Will Volleyball's day ever come, or will it always be one of those "other" sports?
posted by Joey Michaels to other at 04:49 PM - 3 comments
At most schools, yes, it will always be one of the "other" sports. Especially men's volleyball, I think. But some schools have built a tradition of rabid fans, noisy gyms, etc. For example, at the U of Northern Iowa, of all places, the women's v-ball team is a huge deal--just about every game is a sell-out and the crowd can get really loud. (A lot of the fun there derives from the fun of watching a smallish, directional school consistently thrash Big Ten and Big Twelve schools.) It's shame it's not more popular. It's a thrilling sport with amazing athletes, and it kicks the shit out of the intolerable two-on-two beach version that gets so much air time in the summer.
posted by jason streed at 02:13 PM on May 03, 2003
FYI: Lewis (Div II) upsets BYU! Quite a match, actually.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:12 PM on May 05, 2003
Volleyball will always be an "other." Like lacrosse and curling. Curling, LOL, those shots of the players sweeping ahead of the disc during the Winter Olympics always bring a laugh.