Jason HubertThe busiest weekend in recent Wash. U. athletics history gets underway tomorrow afternoon. Not surprisingly, the athletic department has had its hands full preparing for the various events on and off campus.
The volleyball team is hosting an eight-team NCAA regional, while the men’s soccer team is playing host to three other schools in four-team NCAA regional play. The women’s soccer team, which has a first round bye, will host a second round match-up on Saturday at Francis Field at 4 p.m. In addition to the NCAA tournament action, the men’s basketball team opens its season with an exhibition game on the road against Division I national power Southern Illinois University.
The football team plays host to Greenville College in its season finale Saturday at noon on Francis Field. Gridiron action was pushed up an hour to noon, so that the soccer matches could also be squeezed in. Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams are in action this weekend as well, competing in regional competition on the road. The men’s and women’s swimming teams are also set to do battle, as both are on the road competing at meets at the University of Chicago.
No one seems to be complaining. Although the tandem of Sports Information Director Chris Mitchell and assistant director Nick Povalitis will have to put forth a Herculean effort over the weekend, neither approached the challenge with frustration.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s great for the student athletes to play on their home field. What more can you ask for? It gives us a great opportunity to win,” said Mitchell, noting that Wash. U. is the only Division III team in the country to be hosting NCAA tournament play in three different sports this weekend.
Not only will Povalitis have to track Wash. U. teams this weekend, he will have to keep tabs on each of the other seven volleyball squads coming to the Danforth Campus. Beginning Thursday afternoon, Povalitis will keep statistics and write game stories on every single game of the single-elimination volleyball competition. NCAA requires the host institution to provide this service.
Mitchell, meanwhile, will man the Francis Field press box beginning with Friday evening’s men’s soccer competition, a doubleheader featuring Redlands College against Fontbonne University in the first game and Wash. U. versus Wheaton College for the nightcap.
He will return to Francis Field the next morning for the football game then stay put for the women’s soccer game, which begins at 4 p.m. His day doesn’t end there, however. Should the men’s soccer team emerge victorious in Friday’s match against Wheaton, they would host the winner of the Fontbonne-Redlands game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Even if the men lose and do not play Saturday, Wheaton would play the Fontbonne-Redlands winner on Francis, and since part of Mitchell’s job is helping accommodate the traveling contingents from the athletic departments of the various other schools coming to town this weekend, he will still be working. In total, some 11 teams will descend on campus this weekend.
In spite of all the action, the sports information department remains focused on promoting the events to the entirety of the Wash. U. campus. In addition to the department’s flyer campaign throughout campus, Student Union has heavily promoted the events in e-mail messages and newspaper advertisements. They are also covering the cost of tickets for students who otherwise would have to pay to attend the various events.
Student Union President Paul Moinester said he will personally be attending at least a couple of games.
“I’m definitely going to the women’s volleyball game on Thursday night. I’m also definitely going to the men’s soccer game on Friday,” he said.
A full preview of the weekend in sports will appear in Friday’s paper.