By Owen Gorsuch, Staff Writer 

Xavier volleyball is having a historic season, but people are not paying attention. After the program’s first 6-0 start since 2007, the team finished non-conference play 11-1, the team’s most successful non-conference record ever. 

Despite this, the Cintas Center is noticeably empty. Why are people not interested in experiencing our volleyball team’s historic season? More Xavier students should attend our volleyball team’s matches. 

Entering the last four matches of the season, Xavier is 22-2 overall. This is only the second season with 20 wins since 2016, with the most wins in a season since 2007. 

Xavier is only one game behind Big East leaders the Creighton University Bluejays and three games ahead of third place Villanova University Wildcats. The team has played their hearts out, with several players earning Big East weekly awards. 

If you still are not convinced, volleyball matches are easier to attend than men’s basketball games. All you need to do is show your free volleyball and women’s basketball student pass at the entrance. At volleyball matches, because there’s no assigned seating, you can sit anywhere in the arena, even the cushioned chairs in the first couple of rows.

Other students have reasons for not going to volleyball matches. Xavier students have busy schedules, but it is not like schedules magically become less busy during basketball season. 

Other students at Xavier have no problem waiting in line for tickets, going to games on weeknights and even camping overnight for tickets at the annual campout. 

More people showed up to the exhibition men’s basketball game than any of this year’s regular season conference volleyball matches. 

Another reason I’ve heard for people not going to volleyball matches is that they “aren’t exciting.” An undefeated home record and an 11-1 conference record is very exciting.

People have told me that Xavier is a basketball school, so people “don’t really pay attention to other sports.” Yet people manage to go to matches for our nationally ranked women’s soccer team, who have had a historic season in their own right. 

Just because Xavier is a historically strong basketball school does not mean that it is impossible for other sports to become popular. 

I have gone to Xavier volleyball matches since my freshman year in 2022 and have experienced a lot of fun moments. The most memorable moment was in 2023 – when we defeated No. 11 Creighton. This season has been similarly memorable, because of how well the team has played. 

To the players and coaches on our volleyball team, thank you for this unforgettable ride. I am incredibly proud of everyone and wish you guys the best of luck for the rest of the season. 

To the current first-years, sophomores and juniors at Xavier, no matter what happens the rest of this season, next year has the potential to be another exciting season. This is because there are only four seniors on this year’s roster, which means that three quarters of the team next year will be returning players. 

While I will be graduating in May, I hope this year will convince more people to go to volleyball matches next year. This could be the beginning of something special.