Intramural Update: Lambda and Gamma set themselves, while Chi climbs to first

Intramural volleyball is here, and so far, the competition has been fierce. Four divisions are battling it out for points in the rankings, and with different teams proving themselves contenders, the all sports title is still anyone’s to grab. 

The men’s A league shows all four teams able to compete with each other, with Kappa and Delta even sharing opposite point differences within the first two sets of their game at  21-13 and 13-21. While Kappa took the third set and the game overall, every set in the league since then has been decided by four points or less. With Eli Rollen and Logan Moore dominating outside hitting for Kappa, the freshmen boasting strong  defensive efforts, Cole Klaassen, Quinn Martin and the Talamantes brothers, Damien and Eric, demonstrating powerful all-around skills, and Luke Ferguson, Tristan Copeland, Bryce Van Tuyle and Isaac Buffaloe putting forth tough defensive grit for Delta, the league is packed with talent. Put together, any of these four teams could win the championship just as easily as they could finish fourth. 

The B league has produced similar competition, as four teams fight close battles for seeding right now rather than playoff berths. Chi and Kappa are handling the competition best so far, but the freshmen and Delta are right there in the mix. 

In the women’s A league, it has been a tale of two contenders. While Gamma has maintained dominance so far, a bad second set against the freshmen showed their mortality. Despite this, their roster is more than competitive, and the game being the season opener is enough of a reason to excuse the performance. As stars like Joanna Hunter, Amber Hamlin and Zoe Paogonis prove themselves along with coaching staff Sophie Mae Smith and Tyler Bowman, Gamma steadily climbs towards clinching a playoff berth amongst fierce competition.

The second favorite in the women’s A league is Lambda. The club is stacked from top to bottom with returners like Anna Strother and Kayedence Bruner and newcomers like Eden Tucker and Madeline Ross, and so far, appears to be unstoppable. However, the matchup between Lambda and Gamma next week will decide once and for all who is truly unstoppable. 

Despite having a strong second set against Gamma, the freshmen are struggling in the A league. Similarly, Theta A has seen little to no success against top contenders despite Allie Neilson’s defensive efforts. While both clubs possess pieces of a strong team, so far this league seems it will end with these two pitted against each other for third. 

The women’s B league fares similarly to its A league counterpart. Both Gamma and Lambda put together solid rosters, but the major difference here is the presence of Iota and Beta. With six teams in the league, clubs are not only playing for seeding in the semifinals, now they are fighting just to earn a spot. A win over Theta puts Beta in a solid position thanks to athletic director Carlye Ornellas, so it will be up to this week to decide who gets into the playoffs. 

Women’s Intramural Athlete of the Week: Claudia Morrison (Gamma Rho)

First Runner Up: Allie Neilson (Theta Theta Theta)

Most teams limit their opponents’ success through blocks at the net, but Neilson’s digs are what have kept Theta in longer points and volleys. Her serves, hits and sets are top notch as well, but Neilson’s point saving digs are what keeps Theta in games. If Neilson can keep digging up opposing spikes, expect Theta to stay competing till the very end. 

Second Runner Up: Marissa Powell (Lambda Chi Zeta)

There are several former NCAA athletes playing for Lambda A right now, making their team a powerhouse. But today, the star is someone who played softball collegiately, not volleyball. Powell is just as strong of an outside hitter as she is a batter though, and her athleticism allows her to dominate at the net both offensively and defensively. Teams will need to limit what the former volleyball players on Lambda can do if they want to win, but Powell is a threat all of her own.

Men’s Intramural Athletes of the Week: Eric Talamantes (Chi Lambda Phi) and Timothy Co (Freshmen Class)

Last week, two stars stepped up for their teams to the point where both deserve this week’s intramural athlete award. Eric Talamantes stands out as the best server in the men’s division, and his runs of aces allow Chi to create massive leads, and Talamantes’ sets and digs are just as good. Meanwhile, Co has taken the freshmen’s front line to a new level, with his spikes and blocks keeping the freshmen in tough sets. If the freshmen want to make a run, Co is the one who will take them there. 

First Runner Up: Buddy Lambert (Kappa Sigma Tau)

Outside hitters often receive the credit for  making a team successful. But people forget those who set the hitters up to achieve greatness. Lambert’s positioning and passes keep Kappa in the mix, and to do all of this while fighting off a finger injury on his dominant hand is impressive. Lambert has consistently stepped up for Kappa’s A team, and the upcoming volleyball playoffs should be no different.

Second Runner Up: Stone Small (Delta Gamma Sigma)

An all-around player for Delta, Small boasts powerful outside shots with elite awareness and positioning. His leadership, however, is what makes him stand out among the rest, leading his team to an undefeated record so far this year. Make way for Stone: once he gets going, he is impossible to stop.