Big O's Triumphant Even in Defeat as Season Ends

by Meghan Revelle

WILLIAMSBURG, Oct. 6 - The Big O's, the computer science department's intramural sports team, completed its volleyball season yesterday with a 2-1 loss to the Tom Jackson Project. The Big O's overall record was 5-2 this year.

The Tom Jackson Project were the Big O's opponents for their first match and only loss of the regular of the season on Sept. 11. For the remainder of the regular season, the Big O's went 3-0, defeating Unity (2-1) and Alpha Kappa Psi (2-1) and with a forfeit win over the Barrett Beasts.

The Big O's are last year's volleyball Co-Rec B champions, but with their winning record this year, the team was seeded in the Co-Rec A division. In the post-season, the Big O's defeated Beta Chi-O (2-0) and the Little Giants (2-1) to advance to the semi-finals where they met the Tom Jackson Project again.

The Big O's gained early control of the match with a win in game one, giving the Tom Jackson Project its first loss all season. Assistant captain Meghan Revelle remarked on how her opponents handled their first defeat. "It really seemed to shake them," she said. "All season, they had been infallible, and we come along, a team they already beat once, and hand them a loss. I was so proud our team."

The starting line-up for the first game of the semi-final match included Filip Blagojevic, Liz Crump, Richard Dutton, Elise Hewett, Meghan Revelle, and Adam Schwartz. For the second game, captain Tiffany Broadbent subbed in for Revelle, and Justin Kliger replaced Blagojevic.

The Tom Jackson Project rallied to tie the match by winning the second game and forcing a third. Broadbent took herself out of the game and subbed in Revelle. However, she returned after Hewett took a ball to the face within the first few volleys and had to leave the game. Hewett was unhurt but did not return to the game.

The Big O's fell to the Tom Jackson Project in game three and were eliminated from the post-season. The match was easily the most exciting and well played of the season, despite its outcome. Even Rec Sports officials who were watching the game were overheard to say, "Now that's good volleyball."

Broadbent offers her final thoughts on the season. "We really came together as a team," she said. "Everyone brought different skills to the team, and we put it all together to have the best season we've ever had. It was an honor and a pleasure to be the captain."

The Big O's will be back in action after Fall Break for outdoor soccer.