Last week, we told you where to watch your favorite campus sports. This week, we’ll help you decide which ones to watch. In the coming weeks, a number of classic fall sports will be kicking off here at Case Western Reserve University: football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, cross country and women’s volleyball. 

One of the first teams to start their season is the women’s volleyball team. This Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 mark the annual Spartans Invitational held in Horsburgh Gymnasium and the Veale Center. The Spartans will face off against Kenyon College at 5:30 p.m. on Friday to start a hopefully successful season.

Last season, the team finished with an overall record of 18-14, finishing seventh in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships. The 2018 team was led by a strong squad of third and fourth-year players who earned many honors both on and off the court. Looking forward to the 2019 season, it will be interesting to watch some of the younger players step into leadership roles.

Next up are the men’s and women’s soccer teams. Men’s soccer will start the season at home on DiSanto Field against Heidelberg University at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. This game will mark the first game played on DiSanto Field for the 2019-2020 school year and should be an exciting start to the year.

Last year’s men’s soccer team left the field with an impressive record: 53 goals, 16 overall wins and a place in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships. Two standout stars from the 2018 team include current fourth year players Garrett Winter and Zachary Senft. The two players were top scorers and are expected to step into leadership roles in the coming season. With the majority of the team returning to the field this year, fans can be hopeful that the Spartans will be making an appearance at this year’s championship. 

The final game played this Friday will be played off campus at Oberlin College by the women’s soccer team. However, the athletic department will be streaming video and posting live stats all night on their webpage so avid fans won’t have to miss a minute of the game. 

The Spartans finished their 2018 season with 7-10 overall record, which left many fans disappointed. There is hope for the coming season, as the team consistently demonstrated a strong defense and only failed when it came to consistently scoring. With only five members of the team having graduated last year, it is safe to say that the Spartan women will be coming back with a vengeance, older, wiser and ready to win.

Saturday, Aug. 31 will mark the start of the cross country season at the Sudeck Classic Stampede at Squire Valleevue Farm for both the men’s and women’s teams. This meet traditionally starts the cross country season and serves as a great way for both new and old runners to ease into the season. Last year, both the men’s and the women’s team came in first at the meet and will hopefully repeat their performance this weekend.

For the rest of the fall sports, fans will have to wait until September when football and men’s and women’s tennis start their seasons. In the meantime, Spartan athletes will continue to prepare for their coming games. To pass the time, anxious fans can continue to attend other sports around campus or simply work on perfecting their game-day spirit wear look. Fridays aren’t the only spirit day around here.