If anyone saw a hot dog spiking a volleyball at Floyd Long Field last month, they saw correctly.
On Oct. 26, the Outdoor Volleyball Association hosted their annual Halloween Tournament from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with about 70 participants, split into 16 teams.
After several matches, the Hot Diggity Dogs emerged victorious.
Like other OVA events, including the annual Beach Tournament, the focus of the tournament was to have fun rather than foster an ultra-serious environment, fifth-year math Ph.D. candidate Curtis Grant.
“OVA has always tried to be very inclusive — any skill level (is welcome),” Grant said. “Just come, have fun and practice some volleyball. I myself have learned to play a lot here.”
The club started in January 2022 as a way for people to find others to enjoy recreational volleyball with, Weinberg senior and OVA President Connor Smith said.
Smith said the driving force behind the club’s popularity is its emphasis in cultivating a welcoming atmosphere for anyone interested in volleyball.
“We play two to three hours on Sunday mornings, and we can play that long because half the time we’re talking to each other and just waiting in line and being like ‘Did you see that missed block?’ or ‘Did you see that crazy hit?’ or ‘Can you help me with my serve?’,” Smith said. “That just (gives the club) a family atmosphere, and I think that’s why so many people get to know each other through OVA.”
During weekly OVA events, held Sundays at Blomquist Recreation Center or Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, Smith said, members can stay for as long as they like without any pressure. Around 30 members are on a court at a given time.
When McCormick senior Aidan Mott attended his first Sunday event, he said he knew he was joining a particularly special community on campus.
After standing to the side by himself, he said, members immediately went up to him, something he hadn’t experienced with other volleyball organizations.
“The people who were there made a point to introduce themselves and to get to know me,” Mott said. “I kept showing up. I would show up basically to every single event that they posted because I had so much fun (in the club), and I got to know so many people.”
Outside of tournaments and weekly events, OVA hopes to conduct more external bonding events throughout the year, like attending NU Women’s Volleyball games, Smith said.
In the past, OVA has organized a Secret Santa gift exchange. Last year, members cheered on fellow OVA and indie rock band Inertia member Kumi Long at her Dillo Day performance.
Both Mott and Smith said they have made many core friendships through OVA.
“(OVA) feels like the happiest place at Northwestern to me,” Mott said. “I’ve met so many of my best friends from OVA… I could not be happier with the time I spent at OVA.”
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