Match point. We roar to our feet, “Jaws” music thundering. Football may pay the bills, but volleyball is king, and for all of us here tonight, this is the place: Students shouting, senior citizens going wild, toddlers playing in the aisle with headphones over their ears and Y’s painted on their cheeks.

We’re over the dance cam and the dunk squad; we forget our popcorn and our Cougar tail doughnuts. We stop our screams, hold our breath — it all comes down to this.

The serve is good. Our eyes dart back and forth. A gasp. A groan. Then — “B! Y! U!” we bellow like we are the ones who bump — set — spike —

Our cheers reverberate through the Fieldhouse. “Rise and shout, the Cougars are out!”