It's Not What You Played in P.E.

Last night I went to the first collegiate Volleyball match I've seen in more than 20 years.

It was great fun.  Five fast-paced games with some long rallies, great shots, aces, kills, and stuff for which I don't know the terms.

The Badger women came in ranked 25th in Division One, as were eight other B1G Ten Conference teams.  They could fall out of that after losing to Kansas in five games that came right down to the last rally.

Volleyball and wrestling are the last big time sports still contested in the venerable Field house adjacent to Camp Randall Stadium.  Banners hang from the rafters for both those sports and boxing, a sport that Wisconsin was a power in during the 1940s.

It's a band box compared to the Kohl Center and other modern arenas, but that's where the attitude and the spirit is found.  The Wisconsin Band filled that box with raucous tunes and kept the large student section on its feet and toes tapping and hands clapping around the court.

The crowds are smaller for the women's games, but the fans no less fanatical.   

As a way of nurturing the fan base and providing a personal touch the young Badgers gather around the court before the game.  As each Badger starter was introduced, they went down the line of fans with fist bumps and hand slaps.

It's an awesome tradition.

The games stand on their own.  If you played volleyball back in what we called gym class... well, you haven't played NCAA volleyball.  This is a game for high-flyers and smaller athletes who dive and dig and set the ball for the big hits.  I seem to recall playing with nine on a side and underhand serves.  It might be the same sport, but it's not the same game.

The home opener didn't send the fans home happy, but we were thrilled with the action... inspired by the band... and entertained by Buckingham U. Badger.

We'll be back!