With the Razorback volleyball team starting the season off with strong opponents like the No.1 team from Wisconsin, the student attendance for the games increased. The matchups with high-ranked teams brought excitement to not only the players but also to the student supporters. The anticipated games set the volleyball team to break its record of attendance in the student section at Barnhill Arena. 

Jillian Gillen, a graduate student and outside hitter, reminisced about the team’s rebuilding process in the past years. She said even though the team has kept improving even during COVID, there were not a lot of attendances.  

Gillen said the No.1 team in the nation coming this year was Wisconsin.  

“I think people want to see that great matchup,” she said. “It’s a top twenty-five matchup, so we were able to get a lot of people in that way, which was cool because it was during some school nights.” 

Taylor Head, senior and outside hitter, said she believes the impact the team is making on the court and in the ranking attribute to the student attendance increase. 

“We’re really giving people a show,” Head said. “In the previous years that I’ve been here, we haven’t been to the caliber of what we are this year, so I think people are probably wanting to come cheer on a winning Razorback team.” 

A senior volleyball student manager Kara Watson said she thinks the increase is because of the notable names in the team. She said there are Jill Gill, Taylor Head, Courtney Jackson and Hannah Hogue, who became the Southeastern Conference’s Setter of the Week for two weeks in a row. 

The players and marketing team spread promotions of their games by handing out flyers around campus, throwing out t-shirts at a soccer game, and bringing donuts to the band practices. They initiated signature Saturdays or Sundays on their game days to get involved with the community and connect with fans. 

“All the kids get to come through the line, and we get to talk to them, which I think really helps us build that this is a sport where you can actually get really close to the people that you’re coming to watch,” Gillen said.  
Watson said she believes the band is the biggest hype team. Gillen recounted the band’s engagements. 

“They’re always giving people a hard time on the other team, and they’re so good at what they do. It’s freaking awesome,” Gillen said. “They make it easy for people who are students who’ve never been to a volleyball game to get really involved in it really quickly.” 

Because of the matchup, the promotions and the band, students filled the stands at the games. 

“I don’t think a lot of people know how fun volleyball is and how easy it is to get into,” Gillen said.  “I’m glad that we’re able to spread that and have those people come in and talk about it.”