When you go to an Aggie basketball game you witness a packed arena, fans that root for their team every game no matter how many times they lose. When you go to the football games, you see excited alumni and freshman ready to witness America’s favorite sport. Students come prepared to those sporting events ready to show their aggie pride.

That same enthusiasm however, doesn’t carry over to the volleyball team. It’s just not as popular a sport as some of the others. Volleyball just isn’t football or basketball. Nevertheless, it too, can be exciting at times.

With the long volleys, hard spikes and precise serves, volleyball has its moments. For one reason or another however, it doesn’t receive the kind of attention the other sports do.

Quite frankly A&T students just don’t have too much interest. When A&T senior Jamal Lumpkins was asked what he thought about the aggie volleyball team his response was, “I didn’t even know we had a volleyball team until not too long ago.”

After asking three female students selected at random from campus if they had ever been to one of the volleyball games, they all said no with a look on their face as to say, ‘who goes to volleyball games?’

Senior Wayne Dennis referred to volleyball as a “white women’s sport,” and said he would not go to a game simply because, “it’s not a man’s sport.” 

To go to practice faithfully and work hard to win despite the sport not being a “favorite” amongst your peers says a lot. Optimism within the team is riding high.  “Team chemistry is looking promising,” said senior biology major Janae Mitchell.

“I expect to see a team that is more mentally tough, hungry to finish each play, and more competitive.” Senior Stacey Malone expects much of the same. “We want to attend the MEAC conference and win.”

The Lady Aggies will kick off another season on August 28 and 29 during the William & Mary Tournament in Williamsburg, Va.

Last year’s disappointing 7-22 record leaves the lady aggies looking to rebound under the tutelage of Head Coach Toni Conway and second-year Assistant Head Coach Arlene Mitchell.

Mitchell says that they “are an excellent combination that our team needs.” Coach Mitchell was once a standout volleyball player herself. She graduated from North Carolina A&T in 2007 with a B.S. degree in sports science/fitness management.

Aside from receiving the Freshman Female of the Year award after her first year she also received the Aggie Club Award for excellence on the court.

She would later earn the N.C. A&T Sports Hall of Fame Award, and the N.C. A&T Female Senior Athlete of the Year. She holds numerous records for A&T and is the only volleyball player in Aggie history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.

The team should show some improvement under her second year as an assistant with her guidance and coaching strategies.

A little more cheering from the crowd wouldn’t hurt either. Practices are under way and the first games are less than a month away. With a little more support, the lady volleyball team may be able to improve on that record from a year ago. Malone wouldn’t mind the extra home court advantage.

“We would like to see more fans. Our fan base could always be a little stronger.” Mitchell shares in that sentiment, “Of course we would like to see more faces in the crowd. There is always room for a larger fan base.”

All A&T students are encouraged to come and check out a volleyball game or two in the Corbett Sports Arena.

• Prince Askew