Summer may be over but you can still get a taste of the beach this fall. UW-Whitewater offers a number of intramural sports for students to choose from. One of those sports is sand volleyball, allowing for that summertime feeling in the beginning of October.
Intramural sports are a way for busy college students to enjoy their favorite sport. Sand volleyball is a co-ed intramural sport which, this season, has dozens of teams of two or more players.
Playing volleyball is “a nice break for me to be able to see my friends,” says Keri Sherer, one of the players on the team “Wombat Swag.” Sherer continued, “I don’t have a lot of time with my major.”
Sherer played volleyball for many years in middle and high school but hasn’t had a lot of time to play in college while she studies biology.
“I don’t want that chapter to just close because I’m going to college,” Sherer says. Playing intramural volleyball has allowed her to still play the sport she loves even with her busy schedule.
The sand volleyball season runs from the beginning of the school year until the beginning of playoffs which are scheduled to start on Oct. 10.
Over halfway through their “sand season,” the teams have been playing for several weeks now.
Abbey Hamachek is another student who plays intramural volleyball. Hamachek plays on several different teams and, like Sherer, uses playing volleyball as a way to reconnect with her friends. Hamachek plays with friends from her high school as well as friends she has made through playing volleyball.
“My favorite thing about playing are the connections I’ve made throughout the years, and simply being able to continue playing a sport I have a deep love for,” Hamachek said.
Games this season happen within three different divisions for different days of the week. There are games on Sundays, Tuesdays/Thursdays, and on Mondays/Wednesdays.
“We often like to go play pickup sand volleyball so that’s kinda our practice. But we play games twice a week,” Sherer explained.
“Four games a week and sometimes stays after to keep playing,” Hamachek on the other hand said.
By deciding to play intramural volleyball, students are given the opportunity to participate as much as they can within their hectic schedule. This is up to each team and individual players outside of the scheduled games.
The sand volleyball courts are located outside of the William’s Center, near Ma’iingan Hall. More information about sand volleyball and other intramural sports are available on the IMLeagues website and on the UWW Rec Sports App.
