Lewi and The Foxes serve the ball in the first set of the game against The Ball Blockers. April 16, 2025. Jacob Duran.
Jacob Duran
Intramural sports are one of the easiest and most accessible ways to get involved on a college campus. Whether students are huge competitors or just looking to meet people, there is anything from futsal and soccer to badminton. Signing up for intramural sports is simple: students can join a team with friends or sign up as a free agent and get placed in a random group. Unlike club sports, there is a limited time commitment and students are not required to try out for a team. Games are usually held once a week, on campus, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule. For many students at UW-Madison and other colleges around the country, it is a good break from the stress of academics and a way to relive playing a favorite high school sport. At the end of the day, intramural sports is a fun way for students to meet new people while also competing in an activity they love.
ClubCrush followed The Foxes, five roommates: Dom, Nik, Max, Tariku and Lewi, to their Wednesday night intramural volleyball game. On April 16, they played against The Ball Blockers, another group of friends whose approach to the sport is casual and fun.
The game is played in a best out of three sets. The first set went to The Foxes by a landslide 25-8. Each missed serve from The Foxes’ baseline was followed by a raucous cacophony of playful teasing from the teammates.
Max prepares to set the incoming ball from The Ball Blockers. Dom waits in the background, ready to bump if needed. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
Volleyball players can choose from three strategic moves to get the ball back over the net: A set, bump or spike. Sets use the players finger tips to gently ‘pop’ the ball back into the air. Bumps take a more aggressive approach, using the strength of the players forearms to give a forceful boost. Spikes serve as the ultimate offensive move, involving a sharp downward hit at the top of the net.
The Ball Blockers set up to spike the volleyball. Nik from The Foxes waits in anticipation on the other side of the net. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
The Ball Blockers struggled to return The Foxes’ serves. Within 10 minutes, the first set had slipped away from them. Despite this, The Ball Blockers playfully joked among themselves and The Foxes.
Max sets the ball in response to a serve from The Ball Blockers, while Dom runs in as backup. Lewi stands by, ready to give the ball a boost if it does not make it over the net. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
Volleyball requires focused team collaboration to keep the ball in ‘volley’ – up in the air. A team is allowed three hits before the ball must travel back over the net. The Foxes’ main advantage over The Ball Blockers was their superior coordination, which allowed them to consistently play together and set up the points.
The Foxes kick the ball (left) as they playfully try to even out the playing field. A successful header (right) by Nik from The Foxes is followed by rowdy cheers by his teammates. April 16, 2025. Photos by Jacob Duran.
Halfway through the second set and with a huge points advantage, Nik declared “feet only!” The ensuing points were highlighted by chaos and dust as The Foxes scramble to use anything but their arms to get the ball over the net.
Tariku from The Foxes serves the ball as Nik looks on in awe. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
Despite his impressive attempt at an awesome-looking serve, Tariku bumped this one into the ground a few feet behind the net on his own side of the court. The appropriate amount of teasing from his roommates ensued.
Dom stretches to spike the ball. The Ball Blockers slide in the sand to attempt a last minute save – but ultimately miss. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
Fruitful attempts to save the ball from hitting the ground left both teams in the sand on multiple occasions. From hopeful dives to a calculated collapse, the players hit the sand in glorious strives for victory.
Dom miscalculates the ball’s trajectory, resulting in the following events. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
This last photo demonstrates that intramural sports are not all fun and games. Each participant takes on a certain degree of risk associated with their respective sport. As experienced by Dom, the result of a miscalculation is unlikely to hurt one physically, but will instead be subjected to the usual mockery from his peers.
The Foxes and The Ball Blockers share a handshake at the end of the game. April 16, 2025. Photo by Jacob Duran.
“Make sure to capture the respect moments,” said Max as he congratulated his rival for a point well done. The match ended Tuesday night with a 2-0 win for The Foxes. Each win was followed by a playful argument of who should be titled The Foxes’ M.V.P.