UB to Host Largest Collegiate Mud Volleyball Tournament on April 30

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- "Absolute Mud" is the theme for Oozfest 2005, the annual mud volleyball tournament sponsored by the University at Buffalo's Student Alumni Board (USAB), which will be held on April 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Mud Pit on St. Rita's Lane behind UB Stadium on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Nearly 1,000 UB students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends composing, 128 teams will play in what is recognized as the largest collegiate mud volleyball tournament and one of UB's largest student-alumni events. For the second year in a row, Oozfest has sold out, with an overflow waiting list of 16 teams. Oozfest 2005 is co-chaired by seniors Lindsay Catone and Jessica Yacavoni.

Since its inception in 1984, Oozfest has grown to become much more than a volleyball tournament. The day's other activities include music from WILD 101.1, wheelbarrow races, three-legged races, dizzy bat spin races, an ice-cream-eating contest, muddy-water balloon toss, leap frog and tug-of-war competition.

Each team will receive an official team photo, and each player will receive a commemorative Oozfest t-shirt and a towel provided by the College Store and the UB Alumni Association. Hot lunches also will be served, with vegetarian and Kosher selections available. Also new this year are heated tents to provide a respite for muddy and cold players.

Oozfest is presented by the University Student Alumni Board (USAB), the student affiliate of the UB Alumni Association. USAB is a non-profit student organization set up to improve the quality of life at UB by providing programs that directly benefit students, their parents, faculty and alumni. Oozfest proceeds will benefit programs such as the J. Scott Fleming Scholarships, which honor students who have demonstrated positive leadership qualities at UB, and Reality Check, a free reality-based workshop created to assist juniors and seniors in their transition into the "real world."