First Men's Volleyball Game

Photo by Ada Castro

OTTAWA--The first men’s volleyball game is now forever a part of Ottawa University’s history. Our Ottawa Braves fought a tough battle against the Morningside Mustangs in the Wilson Field house on Jan. 15.  

The close encounter allowed the Braves to experience their first game as a part of the Ottawa University community. Just as their coach was, we were proud to say that the first point in the team’s history was for OU. 

The first and second periods seemed like a warmup for the Braves but with the Mustangs at a 2-0 advantage, Ottawa was ready to make a move.  

With a cheering crowd of 185 people, the tension built up between the teams leading to an exchange that went from a 22-22 tie all the way to a 27-29 win for the Braves in the third period.  

The two decisive points of the third period were kills by Sophomore Daniel Jacobs and Sophomore Dalton Sayers, allowing the Braves to play a fourth period. 

 Assistant Coach Tom Sorensen was still pleasantly surprised by the outcome due to the difficulties they faced before the game.  

“It was interesting because we had a few guys who were not able to play because of small technicalities” Sorensen said. “So the first match we played, we actually played with a lineup that we had never practiced with” he concluded.  

The Ottawa Braves won the fourth period too, and advanced to a fifth and final set. 

 Unfortunately for OU, Morningside gained confidence in their service and beat Ottawa 6-15 for a final score of OU-2 vs. MC-3. 

“Despite the difficulties it was a happy day. We had a team that had never played before together and we made it to a fifth game,” explained Sorensen. Head Coach Melissa Blessington, Assistant coach Tom Sorensen and the players, would like to see themselves as a perennial team in three or four years down the road.  

“We are going to keep recruiting strong, we are not going to rest and hope the guys show up. It is our mission to be a good and very competitive team. We feel like we are not far away from the teams we’ve seen at different competitions. The matches we’ve lost have been in four or five, to teams that have been around for 10 or 12 years,” explained Sorensen  

“In retrospective, it was a pretty positive day despite the fact that we lost the match”. Coach Sorensen also informed that they think to have all the right pieces, it is a matter of keeping the players and keep going positive and forward.  

Members of the team were not the only ones to have an opinion, Ottawa University President Kevin Eichner also had great expectations from the team.  

“I think it is terrific that we have this new sport and that they are already very competitive, they have been in every match really, which is very impressive to me," said Eichner.

“I am very hopeful about this program,” he concluded.