On Thursday Oct. 5, 2023, college students decided to take a break from classes and enjoy a game of volleyball. In the Student Recreation & Wellness Center, six women from team Study Buddies played against five women on team Ibuprofen at 8 p.m. A previous match before them delayed their game but they were still able to play a game.
The game started off with Team Ibuprofen scoring consistently against the opposing team. One of the main participants was Megan Dorantes, a senior public administration major, who put all her energy into the game. She wanted to do intramural sports because she’s a senior and because she hasn’t done it before.
“My friend hit me up and she was like ‘Hey, do you want to join a team?’ and I’m like, ‘Yes!’ Perfect opportunity, ” Dorantes said.
She has played sports in the past such as soccer and softball but hasn’t played in college.
“I got really anxious about my hands getting hurt, but since coming to college, most of it has just been going to the gym and playing sports on the side,” Dorantes said.
Sierra Locker, a senior nursing major, played for Team Ibuprofen as well and was positioned in the front. Locker helped her team score points by hitting the ball to the other side of the net smoothly. Besides her swift movements, she doesn’t have a history in volleyball.
“I ran in high school and didn’t really do any eye coordination sports in high school or ever,” Locker said.
She felt like cross country was more her thing even though it did come with a cost.
“In cross country, I fractured my toes because I didn’t have good enough support in my shoes and I ran a lot so just like the stress caused some stressed factors,” Locker said.
Other than that, Locker tries to play an intramural sport each season if her friends are willing to play with her.
From the opposing team, Olivia Summers, senior nursing major, served for Study Buddies often in the game. She made sure to hit the ball as far as she could from the back of the team.
Playing in the game helped her and her teammates get away from college studies and homework.
Summers played volleyball in her high school career.
“I think only two of our girls didn’t play in high school,” Summers said. “I’ve had a lot of injuries, but I broke my ankle playing volleyball my sophomore year of high school, but other than that, nothing to do concerning volleyball.”
The game ended with a “good game” and a final score of 2-0 with Team Study Buddies taking the win.
Edited by Larissa Morgan and Aja Carter
