In early September 1985, my much younger self trundled into the offices of Eastern Michigan University’s student newspaper, The Eastern Echo, and boldly completed an application to be a sports writer.
I knew not what it might entail, but at that moment in time my professional goal was to be a sports journalist. I was majoring in Written Communications with a focus on journalism and was minoring in Telecommunications.
This seemed the logical next step having been on campus for all of 24 hours.
Getting paid – albeit a mere 30 cents a column inch – was appealing to my 18-year-old self who dared to dream of big-league press boxes in the not-too-distant future.
I heard back the next day from the Echo’s Sports Editor, Greg, and I was asked to come in for an “interview.” I place quotation marks around the word interview because I think I walked upright, had opposable thumbs, and passed the mirror-fogging test. That meant I was hired.
Greg informed me that my beat would be the EMU women’s volleyball team and that I should get over to its offices at Bowen Field House and introduce myself to Coach Frank Fristensky.
Here’s as good a place as any to note that, while I’d played volleyball as part of my high school phys ed class and in the backyard at family functions, I knew nothing about college volleyball, anyone affiliated with the EMU team, or how to cover it.
Yet there I was, sitting across from Coach Fristensky introducing myself and telling him that – for better or worse – I was his guy for the coming season.
And with that, my entrée into the world of NCAA Division I women’s volleyball had begun.
It was a fantastic first beat and one that I happily kept the next year despite moving up to the role of Sports Editor. That said, I’m fairly certain I’d not attended a college volleyball match following my departure from the EMU campus a couple years later.
Until …
When I zeroed in on attending the Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers NFC North matchup in early December as part of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, I also began searching for other events I could attend while in the land of cheese and beer.
The opening weekend of the NCAA’s Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament was likely to occur that same weekend I was there and, much like many other NCAA Olympic sports, women’s volleyball opening weekend matches were hosted on campus by the top sixteen seeds in the tournament.
The University of Wisconsin had hosted the year prior and, based upon its ongoing flirtation with a Top 10 ranking, I had every reason to believe the Badgers would host again this year.
And they did!
Sadly, though, the way the schedule was set and my planned travel dates, I’d only be able to see the host site final and not the two opening round matches.
I secured my ticket the Monday of that week and found myself more than passively checking scores throughout my Thursday afternoon/evening to see who I’d be watching the next night.
Historic UW Field House
Clockwise from upper left, trophies are displayed through the UW Athletics windows en route to the Field House; so is a statue of former football coach and athletic director, Barry Alvarez; my first look inside UW Field House in close to 40 years; proof that it really is an old building; leaving no doubt what I was here to see; the bowels of Camp Randall Stadium en route to the Field House.
I’d previously been to a men’s basketball game at UW Field House as a member of the Echo staff when Eastern played at Wisconsin.
My recollection was that it was not unlike EMU’s Bowen Field House and nearby Michigan State’s Jenison Field House in that it was a massive facility that could be – and often times, was – used for various events.
I remember when I first saw Bowen that I imagined a time 40-plus years earlier during World War II that there’d be no trouble repairing fighter aircrafts in the facility. It just seemed so massive.
I love stepping into historic spots such as these and as I parked my car and began walking through the bowels of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium (which sits adjacent to the Field House), I grew increasingly excited to once again step into this venerable old barn.
Carolina on my Mind
From left, the North Carolina Tar Heels line up prematch; the Tar Heels’ logo adorns the scoreboard during warm ups; North Carolina coach Mike Schall provides some direction; UNC’s Bridget Malone with the spike.
The opponent in this Round of 32 match, it turned out, was the 11th-seeded University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels upset sixth-seeded Texas-El Paso, 3-1, the night before to face to the third-seeded Badgers who’d beaten Eastern Illinois, 3-0.
There was a small number of Tar Heels’ faithful congregated behind the Carolina bench, but the rest of the Field House was filled with red and white clad Badgers’ fans.
Also in attendance was the Wisconsin cheer team, a raucous student section, Bucky the Badger mascot, and the University of Wisconsin’s Varsity Band, all of which served to remind me I was no longer in 1980s Bowen Field House watching the Hurons.
Getting the Lowdown
Clockwise from upper right, plenty of volleyball banners adorn the rafters at UW Field House; Bucky Badger with the headstand; the UW Varsity Band kept the proceedings lively; the Badgers’ big three of Carter Booth (left), Mimi Colyer (center), and Charlie Fuerbringer get ready for the next point; Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield lets his team know what the plan is; Fuerbringer serves; coaches Sheffiled and Schall embrace pregame; the UW Student Section was raucous all match long.
As I arrived at my seat, a single on the aisle, my neighbors to my right could not have been any kinder.
The two ladies greeted me with “We wondered who would buy one seat?”
I explained the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, my pending trip to Green Bay two days later, and how I’d always had a soft spot for women’s college volleyball dating to my days on the beat at Eastern Michigan.
I copped to my full ignorance about the Badgers’ program – aside from Big Ten championship and a National Championship banner hanging from the rafters – and the pair was kind enough to bring me up to speed during pre-match warm ups.
My new friends informed me the best player on the floor tonight was likely to be Wisconsin senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer, a transfer from the University of Oregon. Middle blocker Carter Booth, the 6-foot-7 daughter of 10-year NBA player and 5-year Denver Nuggets GM Calvin, also had the potential to be a difference maker. Both gals really liked sophomore setter Charlie Fuerbringer, the daughter of a pair of Division I volleyball players, including dad Matt who is was a USA Men’s National Team coach and head coach of Madison’s League One Volleyball squad.
Springboard to Success
Clearly, based upon their hosting this first weekend, the Badgers were favored and they took care of business, defeating the Tar Heels 3-0, needing a bit of extra time to win the final set, 27-25.
The players and coaches were lauded by the home faithful as they gathered at center court to move their name on the giant bracket. It was anticipated (coming to fruition the next day) that Wisconsin would hit the road for the next weekend. They were off to Texas to play for a spot in the semifinals against first, Stanford, and – ultimately – host Texas.
Consider me an interested observer from my easy chair. My investment in that pair of matches paid off after watching the team I’d just seen up close a week prior defeat both second-seeded Stanford (3-1) and top-seeded Texas (3-1) for a trip to the final weekend in Kansas City.
Alas, the Badgers’ run ended there, coming up a few points short in a 5-game thriller against top-seeded Kentucky in their semifinal (25-12, 22-25, 25-21, 24-26, 13-15).
A final post-script, I discovered shortly thereafter that Mimi Colyer was the first player selected by the Dallas Pulse in the 2025 Major League Volleyball Draft.
I guess those ladies I sat next to in Madison knew their stuff:-)
