Spring College Matchups At Neutral Sites We’d Love To See
I probably shouldn’t even get started as I’m about to geek out on college programs and their spring schedules and how much I love when they play at neutral sites, often times connected to players home clubs, high schools, and other neutral spots that brings high level to volleyball to some areas that may bring a new audience or a chance for fans to drive ten minutes instead of two hours to a match.
Minnesota released their spring schedule and they will be playing neutral site matches with the following opponents:
Minnesota vs. South Dakota @ Fairmont High School (MN)
Minnesota vs. Kansas State @ Simpson College (Indianola, IA)
Minnesota vs. Bradley @ Waukesha North High School (Waukesha, WI)
To start off the spring Iowa State played Creighton at Carroll Kuemper High School which is a pretty solid halfway spot between Ames and Omaha. Iowa State has also played Wisconsin in halfway points in Eastern Iowa between Ames and Madison such as Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA or West Delaware High School in Manchester, IA. Later this spring, Wisconsin will play Marquette at the Milwaukee Sting Facility which was the home club to some of those former players of Milwaukee Sting.
Here are some potential spring matchups I’d love to see on a neutral court. This doesn’t mean the logistics may all come together, will be NCAA compliant, but it doesn’t hurt to dream and think big sometimes.
Green Bay vs. Northern Michigan @ Lambeau Field Atrium/Titletown Park (Green Bay, WI)
Yep, we’re going big to start out. Volleyball is coming to Titletown. The Wisconsin Badger Hockey team has had a series in Green Bay with Northern Michigan every other year, so why not bring Northern Michigan down to play Green Bay, the reigning Horizon League champions at the atrium of Lambeau Field. For those who have not been to Lambeau Field, the atrium is massive holding banquets, receptions, and the Green Bay Marathon Expo. Bring in a sport court, nets, and lets get the game going. Another option would be to put the sportcourt on Titletown Park across from Lambeau which has a 100 yard turf football field and lights. Obviously a lot of logistics would have to work in order for this to go down, but why not?
Illinois vs. Marquette @ Milwaukee King High School (WI)
Alyssa Eske, a libero/defensive specialist who will be attending Illinois is a soon to be alum of Milwaukee King. Volleyball for the city schools in Milwaukee can be tough to build a program, but players like Eske can be role models for future volleyball players in the city of Milwaukee. To bring high caliber volleyball to an urban area would be so powerful, get the community involved, and see what players like Eske can do at the next level.
West Gym at UNIWinona State, Upper Iowa, Grand View, and Viterbo – West Gym on the Campus of UNI
This would be a pretty neutral site for all the teams with the campus of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls being within an under two hour drive for most of the teams. There is also a big tie in with Six Pack out of Cedar Falls as well with plenty of players from there playing at Upper Iowa, Grand View, and Winona State. Winona State and Upper Iowa are from the same NCAA Division 2 Conference – Northern Sun, while Grand View (Des Moines, IA) and Viterbo (La Crosse, WI) are two of the top NAIA programs in the nation. West Gym is where UNI use to play before the McCleod Center was built. Its the house that head coach Bobbie Petersen and assistant coach Kim Davis built as players! So many legendary players have been in that gym and the quaint set up makes for quite an electrifying atmosphere and was an extreme home court advantage for the Panthers.
Nebraska vs. Iowa State @ West Des Moines Valley High School (Iowa)
Too many storylines and history between Nebraska and Iowa State with the connection of Iowa State’s head coach and Omaha native, Christy Johnson being the starting setter on the 1995 Nebraska National Championship team while Nebraska assistant coach, Kayla Banwarth is a native of Dubuque, Iowa as are a few Nebraska legends. West Des Moines Valley would be a little bit of a homecoming for Madi Kubik, the 2017 and 2018 Iowa High School Gatorade Player of the year who was a Valley Tiger, while her younger sister Hayden is a Class of 2022 outside hitter for Valley who I’m sure both teams would love to have on their roster.
Dakota Wesleyan will play in the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SDNorthern State, Nebraska Kearney, Wayne State, Augustana, Dordt, Northwestern, Dakota Wesleyan, Morningside, and Southwest Minnesota State @ The Corn Palace (Mitchell, South Dakota)
A little bit of a conference crossover, border battle, and battle of the best division with Northern State, Wayne State, Augustana, and Southwest Minnesota State coming from the Division 2 Northern Sun Conference and UNK coming from the MIAA, the Division 2 schools will be well represented. Dordt, Northwestern, and Morningside are all loaded with athletes from Northwest Iowa with sprinkles of athletes from the Sioux Falls, Omaha, and Southwest Minnesota area as well. Dakota Wesleyan’s home gym in the Corn Palace, yes, their walls are covered in corn. If anyone has driven on I90 West to the Black Hills you have definitely made a stop at the Corn Palace, it’s next to a Wall Drug sign 😉
UW-Parkside vs. Grand Valley State – Lake Michigan Ferry
Ok, this might be a little bit of a stretch to have a volleyball match on a ship. But with two Lake Michigan schools with UW-Parkside in Kenosha, WI and Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, MI, it’s a match made in car ferry heaven. Too much?
Minnesota vs. UNI @ Kasson-Mantorville High School (Minnesota)
I was able to attend a game at Kasson-Mantorville in Kasson, Minnesota last fall between two five teams in Kasson-Mantorville where the Komets took on Stewartville in front of a packed house. They support their volleyball there with a full pep band, a robot that shoots t-shirts out built by their STEM program, and even had a home volleyball match during a homecoming Friday. Northern Iowa also has a little pipeline developed from Minnesota with incoming recruits Emma Schmidt (Champlin Park) and Maizy Jackson (Benilde St. Margaret) from MN Select and Olivia Tjernagel (Mayer Lutheran – Class of 2020) from High Voltage.
KoMet Volleyball Varsity wins it’s Friday afternoon homecoming match vs Goodhue. Great job ladies!
KM Varsity over Goodhue 3-0.@MSHSLjohn @mnvolleyballhub @Sports_PB @KM_Activities @DCISports @SeanTehanABC6 @PrepDigMN @MinnesotaScores@MNVBCA pic.twitter.com/4jY10Z10Mp— KoMet Volleyball (@KoMetVolleyball) September 28, 2018