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Post by uwvbfan on Sept 2, 2021 14:24:41 GMT -5
Rutgers are playing in Piscataway this year? Damn. Inconvenient. That's a long walk from the train station in New Brunswick. If you are really going to arrive in New Brunswick via train, look at the Rutgers University's Campus Bus routes. The buses run between campuses and thru town. And they are free. |
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Post by greatlakesvballer on Sept 2, 2021 18:09:49 GMT -5
5. Wisconsin - Hot. Good atmosphere. Need more students. I was surprised by that when we went to a game there. I thought there would be more of a student presence. They only show up en masse when bribed with free pizza. |
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Post by NebraskaVBfan93 on Sept 2, 2021 18:55:02 GMT -5
Speaking of atmosphere, which is more important to me, Huff Hall in Champaign is in a league of it’s own. This is due in large part the one of the best student sections I’ve ever seen in any sport. I've heard this from a lot of people. Illinois has something called Block "I", which is similar to the tOSU equivalent Block "O" that is an organization that oversees student sections. So it' super organized and there is leadership, time, and resources dumped into it by someone who isn't athletics. But I have been to Huff Hall and it is DEAD. Like totally dead. Nothing. I think it's rather opponent specific (no duh they showed up in force when Nebraska rolled into town). When the students are there, they rock it. But I've rolled in with a bottom-of-the-barrel team and it was really pretty dead. I give more credit to the sections that show up game after game regardless of opponent. Purdue was one I noticed that from... same with Nebraska. But a lot of places are like Illinois, totally dependent on the quality of the team on the other side of the court. I wondered about the exact thing you've mentioned. My whole perspective could be different were I a visiting fan from a bad volleyball school. |
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Post by spoilerboilermakers on Sept 2, 2021 21:16:55 GMT -5
I have been to, by order of appearances: 1. MN Pav 2. WI Field House 3. NE Devaney 4. PSU Rec Hall 5. IA Carver Hawkeye 6. MN Williams Arena 7. OSU Saint John's 8. Purdue, for regionals, but at the moment can't recall which arena and if it's their regular one. I liked them all, not going to rank them at the moment, may later upon more thought. I did like St. John's even though it seemed a lot of others didn't. I like old buildings I guess. I also liked Carver, even though yes it was sparsely filled, but I could imagine walking down into the bowl for a basketball game (which I might have to do sometime). Also, walking the concourse and seeing the wrestling tributes was impressive. Rec hall had an odd feel, seems like a gym rather than an arena but still seats a lot. Devaney is nice, I guess, but I had a pre-judgement I guess knowing where the parents of MN and WI players I was coming to see where likely sitting. Mostly fruitless trips there except the one year (2015) where MN and WI both won. Still meaning to get to the Michigans sometime. I miss the days when MN/WI were perfect travel partners, that made it easy to double up. Purdue hosts the 1st and 2nd round usually in Holloway Gym. For the sweet 16 and on, Purdue hosts in Mackey Arena. I wish Purdue would play more games in Mackey. Back in the day, Purdue had one regular season game in Mackey. I don’t know why they did away with it and now zero games are played in Mackey. It was a beautiful sight to see every seat filled for the game against IU. |
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Post by coachk2 on Sept 2, 2021 21:23:32 GMT -5
I have been to, by order of appearances: 1. MN Pav 2. WI Field House 3. NE Devaney 4. PSU Rec Hall 5. IA Carver Hawkeye 6. MN Williams Arena 7. OSU Saint John's 8. Purdue, for regionals, but at the moment can't recall which arena and if it's their regular one. I liked them all, not going to rank them at the moment, may later upon more thought. I did like St. John's even though it seemed a lot of others didn't. I like old buildings I guess. I also liked Carver, even though yes it was sparsely filled, but I could imagine walking down into the bowl for a basketball game (which I might have to do sometime). Also, walking the concourse and seeing the wrestling tributes was impressive. Rec hall had an odd feel, seems like a gym rather than an arena but still seats a lot. Devaney is nice, I guess, but I had a pre-judgement I guess knowing where the parents of MN and WI players I was coming to see where likely sitting. Mostly fruitless trips there except the one year (2015) where MN and WI both won. Still meaning to get to the Michigans sometime. I miss the days when MN/WI were perfect travel partners, that made it easy to double up. Purdue hosts the 1st and 2nd round usually in Holloway Gym. For the sweet 16 and on, Purdue hosts in Mackey Arena. I wish Purdue would play more games in Mackey. Back in the day, Purdue had one regular season game in Mackey. I don’t know why they did away with it and now zero games are played in Mackey. It was a beautiful sight to see every seat filled for the game against IU. My (limited) understanding is Coach Shondell does not like Mackey as much as Holloway due to giving up home court crowd advantage. Mackey is great for basketball (one of the best home courts in the country) but doesn’t have the same great feel for volleyball. Fans are too far from the smaller court. |
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Post by dodger on Sept 2, 2021 21:32:44 GMT -5
Purdue hosts the 1st and 2nd round usually in Holloway Gym. For the sweet 16 and on, Purdue hosts in Mackey Arena. I wish Purdue would play more games in Mackey. Back in the day, Purdue had one regular season game in Mackey. I don’t know why they did away with it and now zero games are played in Mackey. It was a beautiful sight to see every seat filled for the game against IU. My (limited) understanding is Coach Shondell does not like Mackey as much as Holloway due to giving up home court crowd advantage. Mackey is great for basketball (one of the best home courts in the country) but doesn’t have the same great feel for volleyball. Fans are too far from the smaller court. Cant get a regional iin Halloway |
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Post by coachk2 on Sept 2, 2021 21:35:06 GMT -5
My (limited) understanding is Coach Shondell does not like Mackey as much as Holloway due to giving up home court crowd advantage. Mackey is great for basketball (one of the best home courts in the country) but doesn’t have the same great feel for volleyball. Fans are too far from the smaller court. Cant get a regional iin Halloway Right - not enough seats - my comment was regarding regular season matches - quite sure Coach Shondell would be glad to play many, many Regionals in Mackey 😂 even though the last one did not go according to plan ☹️ |
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Post by dodger on Sept 2, 2021 21:36:47 GMT -5
Cant get a regional iin Halloway Right - not enough seats - my comment was regarding regular season matches - quite sure Coach Shondell would be glad to play many, many Regionals in Mackey 😂 even though the last one did not go according to plan ☹️ How many does halloway seat?? |
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Post by coachk2 on Sept 2, 2021 21:51:10 GMT -5
Right - not enough seats - my comment was regarding regular season matches - quite sure Coach Shondell would be glad to play many, many Regionals in Mackey 😂 even though the last one did not go according to plan ☹️ How many does halloway seat?? Approx 2200 I think - great atmosphere 💛🚂🏐 been going there 1 to 2 matches a year since 1999 when it was fairly empty 🤔 |
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Post by boilermaker5 on Sept 2, 2021 23:12:46 GMT -5
How many does halloway seat?? Approx 2200 I think - great atmosphere 💛🚂🏐 been going there 1 to 2 matches a year since 1999 when it was fairly empty 🤔 2415 in holloway, Sightlines are totally different in Mackey, which doesn't help, and if they don't draw 6 or 7 thousand people, Mackey feels empty, so you lose the environment as well. IIRC the last year they had it there was against Nebraska, and the turnout was lower than expected. It actually felt as if the game may have been better in Holloway. Sad, because if they can draw 10k+ it's amazing, but not a given. |
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Post by AmeriCanVBfan on Sept 3, 2021 3:02:00 GMT -5
I was surprised by that when we went to a game there. I thought there would be more of a student presence. They only show up en masse when bribed with free pizza. Who wouldn't !?!  |
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Post by AmeriCanVBfan on Sept 3, 2021 3:07:04 GMT -5
Purdue hosts the 1st and 2nd round usually in Holloway Gym. For the sweet 16 and on, Purdue hosts in Mackey Arena. I wish Purdue would play more games in Mackey. Back in the day, Purdue had one regular season game in Mackey. I don’t know why they did away with it and now zero games are played in Mackey. It was a beautiful sight to see every seat filled for the game against IU. My (limited) understanding is Coach Shondell does not like Mackey as much as Holloway due to giving up home court crowd advantage. Mackey is great for basketball (one of the best home courts in the country) but doesn’t have the same great feel for volleyball. Fans are too far from the smaller court. That's why there are no immediate plans to replace the PAV. Gophers feel they would be giving up a distinct home court advantage with the proximity of the fans to the court and the ability to be loud. |
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 3, 2021 5:23:26 GMT -5
The Athletic Dept at Illinois has been trying to put together financing to replace Huff with a facility designed primarily for hockey and sticking volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics in with hockey to justify the build. Volleyball in a hockey rink simply does not work for the fans. Illinois would lose the noise and excitement. Most places where floors are put on top of ice have problems with the playing surface. While Huff needs to be replaced with a facility that has air conditioning and better sight lines for volleyball,, putting volleyball in a hockey rink would be a terrible disservice to the volleyball program.
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Post by spoilerboilermakers on Sept 3, 2021 6:15:41 GMT -5
Approx 2200 I think - great atmosphere 💛🚂🏐 been going there 1 to 2 matches a year since 1999 when it was fairly empty 🤔 2415 in holloway, Sightlines are totally different in Mackey, which doesn't help, and if they don't draw 6 or 7 thousand people, Mackey feels empty, so you lose the environment as well. IIRC the last year they had it there was against Nebraska, and the turnout was lower than expected. It actually felt as if the game may have been better in Holloway. Sad, because if they can draw 10k+ it's amazing, but not a given. I forgot about that. The opponent makes a difference too. Am I remembering right that Mackey was practically filled for the games against IU? |
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Post by Big 🔴 Energy on Sept 3, 2021 8:26:56 GMT -5
I can guarantee that opposing Big Ten teams do not enjoy playing in Holloway. Those students on one end are ridiculous. Not anywhere near as bad as Oklahoma’s student section. |
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