When Syracuse stays on the East Coast this weekend to play Big East rivals Villanova and Georgetown, it’s sure to play in front of small crowds and little media attention.

In college volleyball, the best teams, players and conferences are found west of the Mississippi River. SU (13-6, 2-2 Big East) contains players from several Western and Midwestern states, including California, Idaho, Kansas and Indiana.

‘Back in the West,” said Morgan Jones, a sophomore from Malad, Idaho, “you are born and raised volleyball.”

Since women’s volleyball became an official NCAA sport in 1981, every champion with the exception of Penn State in 1999 has come from a school located west of Missouri.

In the Big East, only 13-3 Notre Dame has received any votes for the Top 25.

Syracuse assistant coach Alexis Dankulic said volleyball is a niche sport in the East, not a social event like basketball or football.

Sophomore Ashley Kimes came to Syracuse from Overland Park, Kan. Growing up, volleyball was one of the few sports available for her to play because sports like field hockey and lacrosse weren’t offered in her area.

‘I’d never even heard the word ‘lacrosse’ before I came on my recruiting trip to Syracuse,’ Kimes said.

Jones decided easily what sport she wanted to play.

‘If you’re tall, you’re going to either play basketball or volleyball,’ Jones said. ‘Volleyball is more of a focus (in the West).’

‘It’s a tradition issue,’ SU head coach Jing Pu said.

Pu, who can win his 300th match as an NCAA coach with a victory this weekend, has coached in tournaments across the United States and said kids learning volleyball in the East pale in comparison to those from the West.

‘Weakness in the East starts at the high school level,’ Pu said. ‘(In the East), the talent pool is relatively small for so many Division-I programs.’

Pu said volleyball has improved in Midwestern cities, such as Chicago, in the last 10 years, but the same quality of youth volleyball has not spread to the East.

Syracuse captain Abby Van Mater, from West Chester, Pa., said it takes more effort to be involved in volleyball as a kid in the East.

‘In California, you have the beach, and you can play year-round,’ Van Mater said. ‘(Volleyball) is more of their culture over there. In the East, not even every area has club teams.’

The lack of volleyball in the East translates to small crowds who have little understanding of the game. With the exception of Penn State, there are no big crowds in the entire region, Pu said.

Kimes said most of her Eastern friends who come to matches need help understanding the action.

‘I have to explain to them the game,’ Kimes said. ‘They want to know, but in the East they grow up with basketball and football, not volleyball.”

When Syracuse recruits, it looks for players from across the country, Dankulic said. The Orangewomen mostly recruit at club tournaments featuring players from every region of the country.

Dankulic said many of Syracuse’s players choose to come East for educational opportunities and to try something different.

An engineering major, Kimes said coming to SU gave her more opportunities in her field.

‘I wanted to go to the farthest school away from home,’ Jones said. ‘Syracuse was a good opportunity for me. It was like starting over.’

Jones sees hope for volleyball in the East, and she believes those who come to Syracuse’s matches at Manley Field House or the Women’s Building enjoy what they see.

‘People that do come have found a love for the game,’ Jones said. ‘People who come and watch are getting to know it. I think volleyball on the East Coast is starting to become more popular.’

Published on October 9, 2002 at 12:00 pm