2008 Woodie Awards
Intramural volleyball aids student life in welcoming students back from break
Competitors say they enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the tournament.
By Jeff Reese
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Pulse
Originally published: 4/3/08 at 1:11 PM CSTLast update: 4/3/08 at 4:33 PM CST
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Each match took on a best two games format that included a winner's bracket and a consolation bracket.
The winner of the consolation bracket would take on the team with the best record at that point to decide the champion.
In the day's first match, Team 1, made up of nursing sophomore Andrea Perez, liberal arts freshman Brenda Martinez and liberal arts sophomore Justine Tunnel, took on Team 2, which brought nursing freshman Samantha Fematt, liberal arts freshman Remie Anesquita and education freshman Belinda Gutierrez to the court.
Tunnel, who played for Canyon High School in New Braunfels, looked forward to giving all her effort to the tournament.
"I like being competitive, going all out and working hard," Tunnel said.
Fematt said she entered the tournament because of the rush she receives from the game.
"It's a fast-paced game. You're not standing around half the time," Fematt said.
Fematt, Anesquita and Gutierrez took the match and moved on to face the team 3, with liberal arts freshman Brian Ridenour, psychology freshman Lisa Triana and premed sophomore Yonette Rodriguez.
Fematt, Anesquita and Gutierrez relatively easily won the first game 15-6, but were severely tested in Game 2.
In the second game, neither team led by more than 3 points until Team 2 scored the last 3 points to win a 15-9 decision and take the match.
Team 2 would await the victor of the consolation matches of teams 1 and 3.
In a game similar to Game 2 of the previous match, neither team held a clear advantage until Perez, Martinez and Tunnel scored the last 4 points of the game for another 15-9 game.
The set's second match featured much less drama: Team 3 fell behind 6-0 and never climbed out of the hole they dug, falling 15-7.
A rematch of the day's first match would decide the tournament's champion and gave plenty of thrills.
In Game 1, the score stayed close as the lead swung back and forth and rarely went beyond 4 points.
But in one of the day's themes, Team 1 pulled away to win Game 1 15-12.
Team 2 blasted off in the match's second game by opening with an 8-0 tear; Fematt, Anesquita and Gutierrez faced little competition in a 15-6 win.
The tournament's deciding game featured another early run; Team 2 jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
While the lead seemed safe, Team 1 came back with a vengeance to take a 10-9 lead and turn the game into a toss-up.
But Team 2 went on yet another late game run to take the game by a 15-10 score and win the tournament.
Gutierrez credited the team's performance to the fundamentals of the game.
"We had good teamwork, and we were communicating with each other," Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez and Fematt brought a bond into the tournament.
They were varsity teammates for three years at Highlands High School.
While the teams went into the tournament in hopes of winning, competition took a backseat to fun.
Throughout the game, the players engaged in a friendly atmosphere of smiles, laughs, jokes, congratulations and sportsmanship.
"That's the main reason to play is the fun," Gutierrez said. "It all comes down to fun."
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