What are the coolest nicknames in men’s college Volleyball? I used to think the best nicknames were those associated with fierce, powerful animals, which leads us to the song of the day – “Animals” by Maroon 5.
“Baby, I’m preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive
Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals”
However, the best nicknames come from creativity and imagination. It’s subjective, but there really are some great nicknames out there. For me the top seven nicknames in men’s college Volleyball (one from each division of MCVB) are shown below. The only criterion is the school must sponsor men’s Volleyball.
- NAIA – St. Ambrose University “Fighting Bees”
- NCAA DI – Loyola University of Chicago “Ramblers”
- NCAA DII – Erskine College “Flying Fleet”
- NCAA DIII – University of California – Santa Cruz “Banana Slugs”
- CCCAA – Irvine City College “Lasers”
- CIS – University of Calgary “Dinos”
- CCAA – Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) “Ooks”
THE FIGHTING BEES
A St. Ambrose student, Warren Lage, suggested “the Bees” since bees are historically associated with St. Ambrose, the patron saint of St. Ambrose University, and “the qualities of a bee, such as its industriousness and its ability to sting” might exemplify characteristics desired in athletics teams. Almost immediately the nickname got a nickname, and the Bees became the Fighting Bees. The Fighting Bees participate in the North Division of the NAIAMVB Conference.
THE RAMBLERS
In the early part of the twentieth century, the Loyola University football team travelled extensively across the country and was considered to be “rambling” from place to place for games; thus, the nickname “Ramblers”. Even though football was dropped as a varsity sport in 1930, the nickname Ramblers is still carried by today’s athletic teams at Loyola University Chicago. Loyola is the defending NCAA National Volleyball Champion and participates in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA).
THE FLYING FLEET
Why the “Flying Fleet?” Erskine athletics seek to fly higher and to amaze, to fly courageously, working and pushing to goals and dreams, and most importantly, flying united. The greatest memories of college athletics don’t come from the winning and losing but from the relationship of doing it together, working and fighting to the end with teammates. The journey is the key component, not always the end result. (Paraphrased from Mark Peeler, Erskine VP for Intercollegiate Athletics). Erskine participates in the Conference Carolinas athletic conference.
THE BANANA SLUGS
The Banana Slug, a bright yellow, slimy, shell-less mollusk commonly found on the California redwood forest floor, has been the unofficial mascot for UC Santa Cruz coed teams since the university’s early years. The students’ embrace of such a lowly creature was their response to the fierce athletic competition fostered at most American universities. The university later approved and endorsed the nickname “Banana Slugs.” UC – Santa Cruz participates as an independent in men’s Volleyball.
THE LASERS
In the summer of 1990, Dr. Phil Stanley, Irvine Valley’s original athletic director, steered the committee tasked with developing the athletics nickname away from the nicknames “Wolverines” and “Ants” (undoubtedly because of the proximity to the UC – Irvine campus, home of the Anteaters). The group chose the nickname “Lasers” to promote and recognize the technical aspects of the school. Irvine Valley participates in the Pacific Coast Men’s Volleyball Conference of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).
THE DINOS
The Calgary Dinos are the athletic teams that represent the University of Calgary in the Canada West Conference, a division of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).They were originally known as the “Dinosaurs” but usually referred to as the “Dinos” for convenience. In 1999, the name was officially shortened to the “Dinos.”
THE OOKS
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a school in the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC) of the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA). At NAIT, everyone is an Ook! Known as the Inuktitut word for Snowy Owl, the Ook is a popular Inuit toy with a large head, big eyes and tiny black claws or talons. Originally it was made from wolf or sealskin.
And, whatever nickname you prefer, let’s grow Volleyball together!
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