WOODBURY — Volleyball games have always been a hub of energy and excitement. With the fast-paced, back-and-forth play and sets being close, Nonnewaug’s volleyball team is finally getting the attention it deserves.

“The student section has been more filled this year compared to all of my prior years playing,” said senior captain Maggie Keane. “We even had enough fans to have a theme like a blackout.”

“I definitely think that it has been more filled than last year,” said junior Emma Jackson. “It has been great to see more people come out and watch.”

Nonnewaug is not the only school getting more traction on volleyball games.

Over the summer, the University of Nebraska’s volleyball game against Omaha set a record for women’s sports attendance with a total of 92,003 fans.

“People should go to the volleyball games because it is a great sport to watch,” said senior Ethan Perez. “Personally it is one of my favorites and I feel as though more people need to experience the thrill of the game. It is another one of our many sports teams here at Nonnewaug, and that seems enough to come out and show our support.”

Having a student section can help a team lift spirits and gain confidence when the game is close.

“Having a student section definitely gets everyone on the court going, and it brings in great energy for the team,” said Jackson.

“Having a student section had really encouraged our team to play well, and it has overall made our school look great with a larger student section,” said Keane.

Nonnewaug’s next volleyball game will be on the road, away from their on-campus home crowd, against out-of-conference rival Brookfield on Oct. 26. The Chiefs will play their home finale Oct. 27 against Gilbert before setting their eyes on the state tournament, which they will open at home Nov. 6.