There is a strange phenomena going around this campus.

It’s not the NIU volleyball team using the Mid-Continent Conference as a warm-up for the NCAA tournament next fall.

That was expected.

The problem is nobody’s showing up to watch them, no one at all.

A good example of this lack of support is the attendance figures over the weekend. The Huskies pounded Cleveland State on Friday and came back the next evening to crush Youngstown State on Saturday.

Yet only 523 fans, 268 Friday and 255 Saturday, bothered to root the team on.

They are 14-2 overall, 8-0 in conference, hold a 31-consecutive-match winning streak over the Mid-Con, and win matches by ridiculous scores like 15-0, 15-0, 15-2. And still nobody is showing up.

What’s wrong with you?

Have you forgotten how to walk? On a Friday or Saturday night, you might be excused if the answer is yes, but the match starts at 7 p.m. With the way the NIU squad puts their opponents away, you’ll have plenty of time to go out later.

Like at about 7:45.

Have you forgotten how to get to Chick Evans Field House? It’s that funny-looking building with the round roof. You can’t miss it.

You shouldn’t need a reason to watch one of the best teams in the Midwest play volleyball, but if you do, here are my personal top 10 reasons to go to the game:0. As the only indoor sport in the fall, you don’t have to freeze your butt off to root the team on.

9. Head coach Pete Waite says this is the best team at NIU in 10 years.

8. This is the best team at NIU ever.

7. Amy Foulke and Kori Schauer are two of the most dominating middle blockers on one team anywhere.

6. During the game, trivia questions are asked about the team. At the end of the season the person with the most correct answers wins a trip to the NCAA Volleyball Finals.

5. The Huskie offense has scored a combined 360 points against conference opponents.

4. The Huskie defense has allowed a combined 91 points against conference opponents.

3. Study break. When this squad gets it going, you’ll be back at the books in less then an hour.

2. On the weekends, it gives you a reason to party later on, instead of partying just for the hell of it.

1. Give the NIU basketball team a rest. Going from end to end after every game to harrass the opposing team’s servers gets tiring.

And there you have it. Ten good reasons to go.

There are probably more, but please feel free to use any of mine as your personal excuse when the team takes on Western tonight.

See ya there.