Story by Justin Gaston, Contributing writer

Intramural sports, like volleyball, carry a weighted energy. When the students of Murray State step on any field or court, they never leave their intensity behind.

Some students are former players just going out for the love and fun of the game; other students are out competing to be called champions.

Albert Diaz, junior from Jackson, Tennessee, enjoys watching his friends play on the court and considers the games pretty exciting.

“It’s kind of fun yet funny at the same time,” said Diaz, adding that he finds humor in how serious the games get.

“They’re definitely not in the pros, but you can’t tell them that,” Diaz said.

Whether it is the fraternity, sorority, independent or residential teams competing, there are good matches all around.

Lambda Chi Alpha leads the fraternity league with an undefeated record of four wins and no losses. Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Chi trail in second with three wins and one loss.

The sorority A league has two teams tied for first place with four wins and one loss (Alpha Sigma Alpha A Team, Sigma Sigma Sigma A) with one sorority following with three wins and two losses (Kappa Delta A).

Alpha Gamma Delta A team’s Casey Schulte,  senior from Bartelso, Illinois hopes her team can turn it around and win the IM championship for their sorority. Schulte said her sorority has been very successful in every intramural sport except for volleyball, but they are looking to change that.

The sorority B league is close with Tri Sigma B leading the way with five wins and zero losses and they are followed by the Alpha Delta Pi Lions who have three wins and one loss.

The women’s residential college league is just as competitive as the sorority league, with Elizabeth leading the league with five wins and zero losses. Springer/Franklin A and the Hart Ravens are both trailing closely in second with four wins and one loss, but it can be any team’s game when the playoffs arrive.

Erin Harper, senior from Princeton, Kentucky and athletic director and captain for the Lee Clark Girls said she is hopeful that her residential college can win it all.

“I mean I think we definitely got a shot at it,” Harper said of her team’s chances to win the tournament.

Clark’s Jacobi Collins, sophomore from St. Louis, shares the same feeling about the team goals. Collins says she enjoys volleyball because it’s fun, but she also comes out to win.

“Oh no, I’m playing to win. I wouldn’t come out to lose,” Collins said.