Parties. Dances. Football. Most of the time when you think about Homecoming at the U, these are some of the events that come to mind. Every year the football game takes center stage, followed in importance by the dance. Volleyball is either pushed to the wayside or, in the case of the last two years, the team plays away games in front of an opposing crowd.
“What is Homecoming?” joked Utah’s senior setter Kendall Cygan.
This year will be different for Utah’s volleyball team. Its game against UCLA is a featured event in this year’s Homecoming schedule. Additionally, the team will play on Friday night, just a day before the big football game against Cal.
Homecoming is an event that a less-heralded sport, such as volleyball, rarely takes part in. Because of this, it gives the players even more reason to get excited for Homecoming Week this year, and junior blocker Alyssa Koenig can sense the energy that comes with these homecoming events.
“It’s really exciting because everyone is home, both football and volleyball,” Koenig said. “It’s exciting because there is a lot going on.”
It might be exciting, but the team has constantly shown that they prepare for every game with a calm mentality. They approached the rivalry game with BYU the same way they approached the Pac-12 opener against Colorado, and that’s exactly what head coach Beth Launiere wants from her team as this match approaches.
“Honestly, we don’t think about Homecoming that much,” Launiere said.
This team, full of younger athletes, has showed week in and week out that they won’t let the nerves of a big game get to them and that they can take their season one game at a time.
Along with Homecoming comes another notable event for Friday’s game against UCLA — the 40th alumni reunion for the volleyball program, an occasion Launiere is definitely eager for.
“We’ve got over 50 alumni coming back,” Launiere said. “We’re really excited about that.”
This is an opportunity for players, both former and current, to get together and share their common history. They have all played for this team and all know what it means to be a Ute.
“It makes you realize what you’re a part of and what this tradition is all about,” Cygan said. “It’s amazing seeing all of these banners of All-Americans and the NCAA Tournament wins and actually getting to meet the people who played on those teams.”
Cygan knows those banners aren’t just a forgotten relic of times past. Rather, she realizes this team is trying to add their names and their accomplishments to the walls of Crimson Court.
“Just knowing that you’re a part of [the history] and trying to make it better than it already is, it’s a great feeling,” Cygan said.
The U’s homecoming theme this year is “throwback,” and that will definitely be at play during the match against UCLA. In the Huntsman Center when the Bruins come to town, all the alumni and former athletes will be introduced to the crowd, and Utah’s young team can only benefit from the presence of so many previous players.
Between Homecoming and the Alumni event, one might think the Utes would be distracted. It’s easy for players to get caught up in the festivities and parties that accompany the traditional dance and football game. But Utah strives to remain focused on its games later in the week.
“It’s important to stay focused on our games, as well as support the other teams,” Koenig said.
While the team is focused on the match against UCLA, they do wish for one benefit of playing during Homecoming Week.
“As long as Homecoming leads to people coming to our home match, then Homecoming is going to be great,” Cygan said.
The Huntsman Center roared with over 3,000 voices in the game against BYU, but that number fell to just over 600 in the Pac-12 opener. With the combination of Homecoming Week and the Alumni reunion of former players, the team hopes the Huntsman will fill up once again, just like it did against BYU.
Koenig values the times when she can have a crowd at her back.
“It’s nice to have our crowd there and have our supporters,” Koenig said. “We love being home.”
Cygan was even willing to make a promise to all the fans who come to the Homecoming match.
“Tell them Kendall [Cygan] promised free autographs to everyone that shows up,” she said.
As a part of the focus of Homecoming Week, there will undoubtedly be fans showing up to support the Utes. And Utah is grateful, even if it isn’t preparing for this game any differently.
@twelvegage96