By Nate Sanchez
Senior Columnist
After only two seasons in the Western Athletics Conference as a full-time member, Cal State Bakersfield will play host to the WAC Volleyball Tournament starting Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The Roadrunners (13-14, 9-5 WAC) clinched the three-seed by sweeping Seattle University 3-0 on Saturday, Nov. 15. Now they’re looking to put Runner Volleyball on the national map by winning the WAC Tournament.
“It’s a great opportunity for the university and our athletics department to showcase our campus,” said Keith Ford, CSUB’s Senior Assistant Athletics Director for Internal Relations. “When you host it’s an advantage because you don’t have to travel and you get to keep your routine.”
Roadrunner Athletics has put extra emphasis on media exposure this year, trying to broaden its reach in the Kern County area. For a school only 45 years into its very existence and two years in a conference, hosting the WAC Tournament not only extends the Runners’ arm of influence, it flexes that arm for all the country to see.
Instead of a “No-Flex Zone,” the Icardo Center will be a “GO-flex zone.” THEY KNOOOOOOW BETTER.
“It brings rec that you wouldn’t get otherwise,” Ford said. “We’re going to bring people who wouldn’t normally be on campus. I think all the WAC championships are streamed online and the NCAA does as well.”
For the fiscally forward, the conference’s cost is nothing to fret about. Since the WAC does put its name on the tournament, the conference fronts most of the bill. Ford said the WAC will pay for some, not all of the tournament’s niceties. These things include officials and reception.
“We’re basically just paying for normal staffing for an event and some additional things like hospitality,” Ford said. “Anything we make above what our costs are, we get to keep.”
Most of that extra revenue for the event will come from ticket sales. Sorry students, no complimentary tickets. However, fans can buy a three-day pass for 25 dollars that will grant entry to the entire tournament. One-day passes are 10 dollars for adults, seven dollars for youths and five dollars for WAC students.
This is a pretty big deal for CSUB. It’s not every year your school hosts a conference tournament. The Runners have won three of their last four matches and have gained some momentum. There’s plenty of room on the bandwagon, folks.
