Ah, Greek Night. Say what you will about our brothers and sisters, but there is no denying their intoxicating influence on Friday night volleyball.

And stakes were high last Friday in the Walter Pyramid, with fraternities and sororities oozing out of the South bleachers, creating the much-appreciated daunting environment for visiting Cal Poly.

The Mustangs (ranked 22nd nationally) had beaten coach Brian Gimmillaro’s Women’s Volleyball team five straight times, and will likely prove to be LBSU’s chief adversary for this year’s Big West Title. Hence the emotion that persisted from the first serve until the final point in the fifth set, which went to LBSU in their 3-2 victory over the Mustangs. Calls were disputed, celebrations went off like volcanic eruptions, and there was more body paint in the stands than a production of Cirque de Soleil.

“Women’s volleyball is an incredibly emotional game,’ said Gimmillaro, looking a little relieved after a three-hour match. He credits his players and the fans for the cooperation that ultimately lead to the emotional victory.

“There isn’t a crowd without a good game and there isn’t a game without a good crowd.”

Like all great episodes of drama, it was rough in the beginning. After LBSU won the first five points of set one, Cal Poly roared back with shouts of “show some emotion” from Mustang coach, Jon Stevenson, taking the first in an impressive comeback, 25-23.

Mustang outside hitter Kylie Atherstone is two-time Big West Player of the Year. Those in attendance probably could have guessed this from the get-go—the ball just sounded different coming off her hands. She finished the game with 19 kills, which is more impressive when considering LBSU altered their strategy after the first set in order to neutralize her presence.

“Sometimes I feel like kids aren’t quite as perfect as I was when I was a kid,” said Gimmillaro, referring to his team’s lapse in the first game. “We got a little excited, we got away from [the game plan]…that was a problem.”

But the 49ers responded in the second and third set, “executing the game plan” with solid play from outside hitters Caitlin Ledoux and Quincy Verdin. When they get going, think of Ledoux and Verdin as two Lawrence Taylors rushing the edge from opposite ends (football season!). They can be that good.

If there has been one question mark for 2008, the albatross wrapped firmly around this year’s lofty aspirations, it’s been the play at the net; the stalwart middle blocker has yet to emerge for LBSU volleyball.

But Friday saw Britney Herzog, along with the more consistent play of Naomi Washington, emerge as a promising force. Midway through the second set, Herzog thwarted several Cal Poly attacks with blocks, and put a few home for good measure to help set the tone for the rest of the contest.

Gimmillaro admits that the match was in question until about the 11th point in the fifth. For argument’s sake, let’s call  freshman Cat Highmark’s hussle on the second point the one that captured the night’s pace and ultimately pushed LBSU to victory. Highmark chased down an errant ball towards the back line, eliciting deafening cheers from the crowd, then managed to spike one home. It was just that kind of night.

It would appear things are looking up for LBSU volleyball. A big time victory over a conference foe makes one optimistic, as does a fan base fired up after five-set thriller. Let’s call it a statement game. How bout it, coach?

“Statement game, no,” said Gimmillaro. “My statement is ‘I’m glad we won.'”