UH men's volleyball

[Walkoff Balk]

Dressed As Empty SeatsWhat happened to the attendance at UH men's volleyball matches?
Did the UH sports fans used up all their entertainment dollar for the Sugar Bowl trip?
Personally, I kind of lost interest in the UH men's volleyball program after the NCAA took away the championship. It deflated the accomplishment of a title. The school who turned in Costas for playing against pros only hurt this sport. I don't see men's college volleyball lasting that much longer.

[MixedPlateBroker]

Cyn and I were at the Stan Sheriff Center last night cheering on our Warrior v-ballers. Each game was close and hard fought with UH pulling out the win over UCSD, 3-1.
Despite the lack of cheerleaders and low attendance, the crowd still unreservedly employed their their hands and lungs in support of the team. The icing on the cake was the $50 JitB gift card I won during intermission. Woo hoo! :D

[Frankie's Market]

Even before UH had to forfeit the NCAA title, attendance at men's v-ball was down from the peak years when Yuval Katz was playing in the mid-1990s. Teenage girls used to pack the arena back then, as the players were treated like teen idols. But then, the university got greedy. Jacked up the price to the tickets and priced those girls out. An older, affluent fanbase replaced the screaming girls,... at first. But they brought much less excitement and energy to the arena. And the new fans weren't as loyal, esp. when the team went through some down years.

Thus, the sad situation we see today.

[Walkoff Balk]

Does the UH band members get free tickets to volleyball matches? There was just a condensed version of the UH band at tonight's match again UCSD.

[Walkoff Balk]

Even before UH had to forfeit the NCAA title, attendance at men's v-ball was down from the peak years when Yuval Katz was playing in the mid-1990s. Teenage girls used to pack the arena back then, as the players were treated like teen idols. But then, the university got greedy. Jacked up the price to the tickets and priced those girls out. An older, affluent fanbase replaced the screaming girls,... at first. But they brought much less excitement and energy to the arena. And the new fans weren't as loyal, esp. when the team went through some down years.

Thus, the sad situation we see today.

The raising of the ticket prices was a bad policy if that chased away the young fans. The slowly decreasing attendance is similiar to what's happening at UH baseball games. When an older relative or any of their friends dies, that's one less UH sports fan.

[dick]

Does the UH band members get free tickets to volleyball matches? There was just a condensed version of the UH band at tonight's match again UCSD.

The marching band gets some funding from the sports department (at least they did when I was in the music department). They are just like the cheerleaders and the Rainbow Dancers.

As for the turnout it's hard to say. It might have been an off night for who was available. Not sure if men's VB is part of the "must play" events for them. Notice how they were wearing aloha shirts? And notice how they wear green for hoops? I get the feeling that it was a volunteer effort rather than a mandated appearance (but don't hold me on that).

Back when I was in the UH Wind Ensemble (many moons ago), a bunch of us used to show up at Klum Gym to play as the "Bowzo Band." Not sanctioned per se, but we wanted to cheer the Wahine VB team (and play some fun music). People in the marching band were required to play at the Blaisdell for the men's hoops.

[oceanpacific]

Dressed As Empty SeatsWhat happened to the attendance at UH men's volleyball matches?
Did the UH sports fans used up all their entertainment dollar for the Sugar Bowl trip?
Personally, I kind of lost interest in the UH men's volleyball program after the NCAA took away the championship. It deflated the accomplishment of a title. The school who turned in Costas for playing against pros only hurt this sport. I don't see men's college volleyball lasting that much longer.


Is the total number of Division 1 teams for men's volleyball under 30? It was slipping over the past decade as schools started dropping teams to meet gender-equity dictates. After all, UC San Diego is a Div. 2 school playing in the Div. 1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) with the likes of UH, UCLA, BYU, Stanford, and the like. Men's volleyball only has "club" status at Cal-Berkeley.

Women's volleyball has over 300 teams.

[Frankie's Market]

Is the total number of Division 1 teams for men's volleyball under 30?

The number is closer to 20, maybe even less than that.

This is why, unlike other sports, it is really no big deal to be in the national top 10 for men's volleyball. For UH to not be in it signifies a really bad year.