Recently, I went to catch a glimpse of one of the best organizations here at Critical Thinking University.

I walked into the Den on the fifth floor of the RecPlex to find a familiar sight. The women’s volleyball was pummeling the opposition in front of what I like to call a sparse crowd.

Five bleachers of four rows weren’t filled with fans.

“Where are all the students on this early Friday evening?” I thought.

Out drinking? Not yet.

Studying? Yeah, and O.J. Simpson has spent the last eight years looking for the real murderer.

They should be here, I decided.

I hear many students at Loyola complain about the athletic program. There’s no football team. Lack of scholarships makes all the teams we do have less talented than the competition.

Well, there’s nothing to complain about when it comes to the volleyball team. After all, we are Americans. Shouldn’t we love a winner?

The university needs to support this team more. It is really good.

It has advanced to the national tournament two years in a row, winning one match at nationals this past season. Not many teams in the country can say that. Even ones with scholarships.

The team has won eight of its past 10 matches and is turning into a Region XIII dynasty.

Energy filled the Den that night despite the lack of attendance. Music blared. The ‘Pack thumped the opponent in three straight sets.

Most of the attendees were fellow student athletes.

More students are needed in the Den for home games. Loyola should be able to have an overflowing crowd of support.

The team is something the university can be proud of. The players give it their all in practice for two hours every day after a full day of classes. Then, on game day, they spank the enemy like a strict father after his 5-year old misbehaved.

For dorm residents, the Den is a mere three-minute walk away. Home games should be the place to be. It’s our only chance in college to cheer for a winning team we can call our own.

I realize that many of you are not sports fans. That’s fine and dandy.

But you would be supporting one of the best parts of our school, a winning sports team. I think we, as students, are capable of packing the Den.

I also realize that many of you are sports fans but just don’t like volleyball. I myself once felt that way. Then, I went to some games last year.

Now, I really enjoy it. It’s a nice change of pace from the brutality of football.

Not to mention games provide an entertaining event.

You get to see plenty of athleticism on display, hear music in between sets, and most important, help out the team by getting in the opponents’ heads.

During the Region XIII tournament last season, baseball player Jeff Quates rattled a player into several mistakes. He was so effective that the girl’s mother eventually threw her water bottle at him. It landed on the court and halted the action.

You won’t get that kind of entertainment smoking outside the dorms.

So get off your couch, put the books away for an hour, and support the team this Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Den. On Tuesday, former coach Greg Castillo and his Xavier team visit the Den. The excitement level will be at an all-time high for that one.

Back the ‘Pack, students of Loyola.

As one chant in the Den goes: “Loyola volleyball: it’s fantastic.”