College is a fantastic time to leave your comfort zone. There are new things to see, do, experiment with and perhaps even new things you’ll grow to love. Take sports for example. If you’re like me, you may not have had a chance to experience the thrill of sitting courtside during a match. For those looking to explore the world of college sports, join me as we recap one match a week, all the while explaining the basic rules of the game. At Idaho State University, students can attend home game matches for free with their student ID cards. Masks are required.
Women’s volleyball is a fast-growing sport in the 21st century. Loosely based on badminton and the beachside version of the game, competitive volleyball features two teams facing off, trying to launch a ball onto the opposing team’s side without touching the net or catching the ball. Six players square off on either side; hitters, setters, blockers and the special libero, which you can always pick out due to their specially colored jersey.
Because each team is only allowed to touch the ball three times to get it over the net, every play starts basically the same. The ball is served by the opposing team, before it is intercepted by a defensive player, often the libero. This is called the bump. Next, the ball moves to the setters, players who prepare the attack. They toss the ball at just the right angle to be power smashed by a hitter, while at the same time preventing the opposing team from knowing where the attack will take place. Sometimes this involves tossing a ball behind them without even looking back. This is the set.
Finally, the attack is ready. A hitter steps up to smack the set ball out of mid-air with maximum force, aiming to score a point by hitting the floor on the opponent’s side. This is called the spike. If they’re lucky, they’ll have a clear shot, but often the other team’s defense is one step ahead of them, which means they have to put enough force behind their hit to break through the arms of the blockers. Blockers attempt to time their jumps just right to bounce the incoming ball back to the opposing team using only their forearms. This is particularly amazing when you realize that the net is over seven feet off the ground.
Play continues until one team drops the ball, touches it more than three times or accidentally launches it out of bounds. That’s right, be prepared to catch an errant ball if you chose to sit close to the court! In college volleyball, teams play 25 points to a set, five sets to a game. A normal game of volleyball includes amazing saves, intense volleys where the ball passes between teams for minutes on end and other feats of athleticism so hair-raising you can’t help but get swept up in the energy of the moment!
This last Friday, ISU hosted a volleyball invitational. Although we had lost to the University of California Irvine earlier in the day, the team was ready for their second match-up against Seattle University by 7 p.m. that evening. Playing in Reed Gym, there were at least enough spectators to fill up the courtside seating. I chose a bench in the upper bleachers to get a better view of the action.
As soon as the buzzer sounded, the ball was in motion. The speed and agility of the players was astonishing. ISU quickly took the lead by two points, remaining that way for most of the set before finally pulling substantially ahead to defeat the Seattle Redhawks 25-18. During one particularly ferocious volley, the ball spiraled into the rafters, coming dangerously close to knocking out a ceiling panel.
Bengal freshman Sadie Bluth, an outside hitter, led the Bengals in the first set with five kills, the fancy volleyball term for hitting the ball so hard the opponents can’t even try to return it.
The second set turned out to be a nail-biter, with both teams fighting viciously for every point. Neither team was willing to let their opponents pull in front, and they stayed neck and neck until the Redhawks claimed victory 22-25.
Although the on-court energy was intense, the players on the sidelines were having fun. After impressive plays, our Bengal ladies would act out C.P.R. and by the time we hit the fourth set the two teams were dance-battling during water breaks and referee deliberations. One Bengal stood triumphant after executing the worm perfectly.
In the third set, the Bengals showed what they were made of, leading by a gnarly 10 points for most of the set, before winning 25-17. In retaliation, the Redhawks claimed the fourth set 21-25. The two teams would duke it out back and forth, with momentum swinging towards both teams before a final fifth set was needed.
The Bengals saw their share of five-set games last season with many of them not going their way. The team was not going to allow that to happen this evening.
After giving up the first point of the fifth set, the Bengals roared back and quickly went up 5-1 forcing the Seattle coach to call a timeout, much to the chagrin of the Idaho State men’s basketball team sitting right behind the Seattle team. Seattle would never get closer than three points in the fifth set.
The Bengals would close it out with a final score of 15-8 (final sets only play to 15) and take the match 3-2.
The match marked the first Division I win for the Bengals since February of this last year and the Bengal crowd in attendance let the team hear their support.
