The Mac Weekly

Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Daniel Kerwin The start of early morning practice at Cretin Durham Hall

With no place on campus remaining to hold practices, the volleyball team has been borrowing the gym at Cretin Durham Hall. The team practices practice at 6:30 a.m. in order to work around the practice schedules of Cretin Durham's sports teams. On the van ride over, the driver searches for rage music on the radio. Van time is vent time.

The season has been an ongoing challenge for the players. All their games this year are on the road, making it hard for fans to come and give them support. You wouldn't be blamed for not even knowing that the team was playing at all.

"It's a huge challenge to have every game on the road and every practice at 6:30," Head Coach Stephanie Schleuder said. "It's one of those years they'll look back on when they're old and gray and remember the challenges."

For the seniors it really will be hard to forget. They won't reap the benefits of the new athletic facility - they've already played their last home game. They're playing the final games of their college career hidden in obscurity.

"Because we don't have a home gym it's hard for friends to make games," Co-captain Kari Tanaka '08 said. "But there's a fan bus this Friday so hopefully fans will make it."

The fan bus is one of the ways in which the team is trying to get fans reacquainted with Mac Volleyball. Even if they can't be at home, by bringing a bus load of fans the team will be bringing the best of home with them. The first fan bus will be going to the game against Bethel this afternoon. The bus leaves from the stadium at 6:30; those that make it there even get a free Mac Volleyball t-shirt.

To further reach out to fans, there will be live webcasts of the games the team plays in and around the Twin Cities. Andrea Hansen '08, one year removed from the team, will be producing the webcasts, which should be available on the Mac athletics webpage. In total, six to eight games should be covered by the webcasts.

"It's a lot to deal with, traveling every weekend. They're working through it," Hansen said. "They've been struggling, but now that they're home, well at least within a five mile radius, they know that we'll be supporting them."

Continued...

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