In this penultimate intramural column of 2014, we’ll take a look at the final volleyball standings and preview the playoff pictures. The waterball regular season is also over, and results from last night’s games are available online at imleagues.com.
Women’s Champ Volleyball
Surprise, surprise. Kojies and Siggies are two of three teams tied atop the league with identical 4-1 records. The third team is Notorious D.I.G., comprised partially of former ACU volleyball players. Kojies beat Siggies, Siggies beat Notorious D.I.G. and Notorious D.I.G. beat Kojies, meaning there is no favorite for the women’s title. The league is open as wide as a Kojie pop-out.
Notorious D.I.G.’s ability to hypnotize its opponents may lead to victory, but the players will have to exercise caution. The mo’ money they come across, the mo’ problems they’ll see. See what I did there? Notorious D.I.G.’s first playoff game will be Thursday at 10 p.m.
Both the Kojies and Siggies lost three sets total en route to their 4-1 records, but Ko Jo Kai’s victory in the rivalry game secured them the No. 1 spot.
Kojie Jodi Gaines knew her team’s final game against the Siggies was for more than just first place and bragging rights.
“My life depended on this victory,” Gaines said. “I was told that if Kojies lost, then we would be kicked off campus and I would never see my friends or family again. So maybe don’t print that in a newspaper article because I may go missing. But it certainly mattered since it is my last intramural volleyball season to ever play.”
Now one of the favorites to repeat as champions, Gaines told me Kojies’ secret to preparing for the playoffs.
“We’re eating a lot of gluten, carbs and processed flour products,” Gaines said. “We rarely work out and mainly stay indoors, away from the court. We’re using the technique of ‘vision.’ If you envision a ‘W,’ you get a ‘W,’ so we’re taking that approach.”
Gaines also commented on the target Ko Jo Kai has on its back because it is the defending champion.
“Please dethrone us so we don’t have to come up with another unique color combo for the Intramural Championship T-shirt,” Gaines said. “There’s too much pressure to be original, and there are only so many shades of pink and green. Also, may the odds be ever in your favor.”
Gaines even offered advice to her opponents heading into the playoffs.
“Jordan Moore, who used to play for the ACU volleyball team, is our weakest link,” Gaines said. “If you target her, we’re sure to lose. She’s the absolute worst.”
Playoffs start Thursday with all teams in action except Kojies and Siggies, which have received a bye into the second round.
Men’s Champ Volleyball
Monday’s first-place showdown between 4-0 GSP and 4-0 She Set Yes ended in a two-set victory for She Set Yes. This game very well could have been a preview of the championship game, and if you ask GSP’s Alan Songer’s Facebook status, it most certainly was.
But will his guarantee come true? The Gammas will likely have to go through the Trojans to get back to the final, and the Trojans had more success against She Set Yes than GSP managed.
If I were a member of She Set Yes, I would rather play GSP. Just because GSP always wins everything and would be more fun to beat.
Don’t count out Sub T, though. After starting the season 0-3, the Subbers came back with consecutive wins, including a hard-fought victory over Trojans.
Women’s Waterball
It has been brought to my attention that three-time defending champion GATA has come out with a new look this year. Custom caps. Yes, those silly looking helmet things the players wear on their heads must have been far too primitive for the likes of GATA, so the team purchased new red caps and embroidered “GATA” across the front. They probably needed new caps anyway because the ones in the Rec likely didn’t fit after all that winning went to their heads.
The defending champs were in first place heading into last night’s matchup against second-place Alpha Kai Omega. Should Alpha Kai win or tie, it would take over first place.
Eta Pi sits alone in third at 1-1-1, and captain Marissa Mueller believes her team has a shot at dethroning the defending champs come playoff time.
“We may not be the biggest fish in the pool,” Mueller said. “But we are the most willing to drown the competition (or ourselves) for the win.”
In fact, Mueller welcomes the opportunity to take on the GATA powerhouse.
“I don’t want to rock the boat,” Mueller said. “But if we see evidence of these so-called ‘GATA head caps,’ it will definitely be the catch of the day.”
Men’s Waterball
GSP and Galaxy faced off Tuesday night to determine first place. Both teams had destroyed their competition thus far and hadn’t faced a tough test yet. No matter the outcome Tuesday, look for those two teams to meet each other in the final.
Sub T-16 stands the best chance to create waves in the playoff pool, sitting in third at 2-1. After an opening loss to GSP, the Subbers have rattled off two straight wins, including a 34-20 victory over Trojans on Monday. Wait, this sounds a lot like volleyball”¦
As of yet, no men’s team has been spotted with custom caps with its team name embroidered on the front. Although, I could see the men of Galaxy getting monogrammed swim suits if they secure their fourth-straight title.
