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It’s your top five men’s volleyball story list, but with a twist.
Every Sunday during the men’s volleyball season I will post the top five best men’s volleyball stories of the week from around the nation. The list, though, is based more on how well the reporter wrote and covered the story rather than just what happened on the court.
I will be primarily looking at a college newspapers — they provide the majority of coverage to the sport — but occasionally I will include some well written men’s volleyball articles from professional newspapers.
This time of year is challenge for most men’s volleyball reporters at college newspapers.
Two months into the season a reporter has done many of the feature stories he or she wanted to do at the start of the year and now has to dig deeper to find interesting stories about the team. In addition, with it being Spring Break many colleges reporters have to balance enjoying their break and getting away from the newspaper, while still maintaining their beat and reporting any news that happens.
However, this is also the time of year when the short break can help re-energize a reporter and give them time think of some awesome feature story ideas for the rest of the season.
These types of stories, along with going beyond the boxscore and game notes to provide readers with insight on the team that they can’t got anywhere else is one of the most important skills for a sports reporter.
This list is to honor those efforts.
Hawai’i coach Hall knows Pacific like it’s family
Stephen Tsai | The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Jeff Hall less than one year after resigning as an assistant coach at Pacific to become an assistant coach at Hawai’i finally played his former team this weekend. Hall in this feature story discusses why he left Pacific and some of the challenges he faced coaching the Tigers.
Balanced attack powers UCLA to victory in 5 wild sets vs. Penn State
Benjamin Kelly | The Daily Bruin
This game story looks at how UCLA middle attacker Thomas Amberg played through a hand injury in a five-game victory against No. 9 Penn State on Wednesday. Amberg finished the match with team-high 16 kills.
USC faces off against UC San Diego and UC Irvine
Duke Ho | The Daily Trojan
Following No. 1 USC’s victories against No. 2 BYU last week, this preview article discusses how the team was preparing for its home matches against UC San Diego and UC Irvine. The article, though, makes the list because of the reporter’s quote from Trojan outside attacker Murphy Troy about the possibility of the athletics department one day retiring his number.
Freshman play big role for Harvard
Kenny A. Lee | The Harvard Crimson
For the first time this season, an Ivy League student newspaper cracks the top five list. This news-feature story looks at the affect Harvard’s four freshman starters have had on the team this season.
Ohio State takes down Ball State in Columbus
Andrew Mishler | The Ball State Daily News
Despite the Buckeyes’ All-American outside attacker Shawn Sangrey being out of the lineup, Ball State lost its 10th consecutive match against the Ohio State. This game story examines the Cardinals struggles on offense and their inability to beat the Buckeyes.