A Rousing Opening Night (submitted by Jason Plotkin, Assistant Sports Information Director, 9/18/08)
In 2002, I attended my first collegiate volleyball match as my alma mater, Sam Houston State, hosted their annual volleyball tournament. During my time in Huntsville, Texas, I never missed a volleyball home match. Since that first match, I have attended numerous matches ranging from a Conference USA tournament to contests held at Rice, Houston, Texas Southern and Loyola.
Never have I been afforded a chance to be a fan between that first match and the most recent match I attended, a contest between the University of New Orleans and Nicholls State. In this field that I work, we are told to never cheer from press row. Last night, I must say that I was very tempted.
Against the Colonels, the crowd of 360 was the largest since 2004 when the Privateers hosted the conference tournament at the Lakefront Arena. The fans in attendance, which included the men's and women's swimming and diving teams really got into the action. As one of our loyal supporters Dan Harper wrote in an e-mail this afternoon, "they even had unified UNO cheers as they chanted U NO (You Know!) after every UNO point."
The crowd brought out the best in our team. The Privateers hit a season-high .433 for the match, surpassing their previous mark of .423 against Auburn. Most everyone down the box score had a strong game on the attack.
Maria Szivos, in her first home match as a member of the squad, gained plenty of fans from her hard hitting. At one point during the night, it seemed as she was about to serve, the noise picked up until she delivered. While some may say it was reminiscent of a kickoff at a football game, I'd say it was more like the noise from the crowd prior to an attempt at a track and field event. Instead of one continuous roar, it sounded like they were repeating a word in a language I didn't know. They may have been cheering in her native language!
A lot of credit needs to go to Adam Stowe and Kearney Gay down the hall from here in the athletic department for promoting the match all over campus. Dan Harper was e-mailing the Silver Krewe and the volleyball team was doing all they could to pub the game.
If we can replicate the atmosphere for the rest of the volleyball season, we have a very exciting year on our hands. Thanks to all of those individuals who came out and cheered on the 7-3 Privateers to victory!
Inside the Athletic Department
