2008 Woodie Awards
In This Corner: UCLA coming to the Towson Center Tuesday: Be There!
Darnay Tripp
Sports | 9/10/06
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UCLA is playing at Towson this week.
There, I got your attention.
I would have started by saying this is a story about an upcoming volleyball match, but that might not have had the same effect. Because, well, you simply might not know any better.
Towson volleyball alone does not turn people's heads around here. It should. The majority of students and the community as a whole are unaware of their accomplishments. They shouldn't be. Because if first year Head Coach Paul Koncir's team was not worthy of your attention, they would not have the No. 3 ranked Bruins leaving sunny Los Angeles for a match-up at the Towson Center Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., for just the second all-time meeting between the schools in any sport. And they certainly wouldn't be talking about an upset.
"Within the campus most of them do not really seem to know that we have a volleyball team and I don't know how many check the back page [of The Towerlight] for the sports," senior Christina Grempler said. "But if we were to pull off a win or even take the No. 3 ranked team in the nation to five games, I think that would definitely open the eyes of the Towson community a little bit."
It's pretty safe to say that California teams are to volleyball what a certain two North Carolina teams are to college basketball. If you know the sport, you know their names, players, and legacies. UCLA is certainly within that category. Three national championships generally put you in that arena.
"It's just a team that you grow up watching and hearing all about," junior Erika Swan said. "Now you have a chance to play against them. It's kind of surreal."
These are the opportunities that come with the growth of a program. Two years ago under former Head Coach Chris Riley, the Tigers validated themselves by winning the CAA Championship. Last year, with a completely revamped roster, they made a second consecutive trip to the title game. By doing so they have not only gained recognition within the conference, but around the nation.
There, I got your attention.
I would have started by saying this is a story about an upcoming volleyball match, but that might not have had the same effect. Because, well, you simply might not know any better.
Towson volleyball alone does not turn people's heads around here. It should. The majority of students and the community as a whole are unaware of their accomplishments. They shouldn't be. Because if first year Head Coach Paul Koncir's team was not worthy of your attention, they would not have the No. 3 ranked Bruins leaving sunny Los Angeles for a match-up at the Towson Center Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., for just the second all-time meeting between the schools in any sport. And they certainly wouldn't be talking about an upset.
"Within the campus most of them do not really seem to know that we have a volleyball team and I don't know how many check the back page [of The Towerlight] for the sports," senior Christina Grempler said. "But if we were to pull off a win or even take the No. 3 ranked team in the nation to five games, I think that would definitely open the eyes of the Towson community a little bit."
It's pretty safe to say that California teams are to volleyball what a certain two North Carolina teams are to college basketball. If you know the sport, you know their names, players, and legacies. UCLA is certainly within that category. Three national championships generally put you in that arena.
"It's just a team that you grow up watching and hearing all about," junior Erika Swan said. "Now you have a chance to play against them. It's kind of surreal."
These are the opportunities that come with the growth of a program. Two years ago under former Head Coach Chris Riley, the Tigers validated themselves by winning the CAA Championship. Last year, with a completely revamped roster, they made a second consecutive trip to the title game. By doing so they have not only gained recognition within the conference, but around the nation.
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