Mud, smiles and teamwork returned to the fields behind North Campus this weekend as the University of Connecticut hosted its annual OOzeball tournament, a spring tradition that has lasted decades.
Created by students in 1984, OOzeball has been played every spring since, growing into one of UConn’s most recognizable campus events. The mud volleyball tournament is organized each year through a collaboration between the UConn Student Alumni Association and UConn Recreation.
Despite being a chilly Saturday, hundreds of students gathered to compete, socialize and embrace the messy spectacle.
“It could be a few degrees warmer and sunny, but every match has been immaculate,” said Christian Hade, an eighth-semester civil engineering major. “We’ve had no cupcake teams, but that’s also made every game that much more intense and that much more fun.”
For many students, OOzeball is less about winning and more about the experience. Meredith Kelley, a second-semester allied health sciences major attending her first tournament, said the day was both exhausting and memorable.
“It’s been a long day, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Kelley said. “I got to dress up as Troy Bolton for the first two hours, so it was really fun.”
Behind the scenes, organizers spent months preparing for the large-scale event. Marc Alexis, a sixth-semester student and OOzeball staff member, said upper-level staff coordinate logistics ranging from food and scheduling to court setup.
“They’ve probably been preparing for a few months,” Alexis said. “They organize the food, the schedule, the courts; they do all of that.”
Players also pay to participate, with teams covering registration costs that contribute to the event’s operations. Michael Pinedo, an eighth-semester communications major, said he nearly missed this year’s tournament.
“I recently got up at 12:30 and forgot that I signed up for OOzeball,” Pinedo said. “But now I’m here. It’s my second time doing it, and I’m just trying to enjoy this before I graduate.”
Pinedo described a straightforward strategy rooted in basic volleyball rules.
“If you have the ball, call it — pretty simple volleyball rules,” he said. “Those fundamentals can get you a lot further than one might think.”
While competition remains a factor, the muddy playing conditions often level the field, creating unpredictable and entertaining matchups. Alexis noted that some teams stand out due to experience and physical advantages,but said most games remain competitive.
“There are a few teams that have been in the finals or quarter finals the past few years that keep coming back,” he said. “Those teams are pretty good.”
Even so, early losses do little to hurt spirits. Eighth-semester pre-med student RoseMina Notch said her team was eliminated quickly but still found enjoyment in the experience.
“We lost immediately. It was cold,” Notch said. “But it was great. We won spiritually.”
Participants said small moments like even falling in the mud can become highlights.
“The first time I fell, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m doing this correctly,’” Notch added.
Team “Big Mama” took home the 2026 OOzeball title, defeating runner-up “Roydemption” in the final match. Winners of the tournament receive prizes, including intramural T-shirts and sponsor-provided items. This year, according to participants, each player on the winning team is expected to receive a case of Monster energy drinks.