BALTIMORE -- When teams enter the Auxiliary Gym to play a match against the Coppin State volleyball team they don’t have to just deal with an ever improving Eagle team they now have to deal with the Turn Up Squad. What started as simply friendship between Coppin State volleyball and baseball student-athletes has evolved into a definite home-court advantage for the Eagle volleyball team.
The Turn Up Squad is a group of Coppin State baseball players that have come to form the official CSU cheering section for the Eagle volleyball program. The Turn Up Squad, under the direction of baseball players David Hamlett, Yahya Muhammad, Jhar Devilme and Myles Taylor, leads the crowd in cheers and has been known to wear volleyball spandex shorts to matches.
Coppin State head coach Ashley Preston was looking for a way to increase fan attendance and enthusiasm at Eagle home matches and hatched an idea during her first year at CSU in 2012.
“The baseball players came to the first couple of matches and they were already a group that cheered together. I wanted to generate some excitement and fan interest and I thought the best way to do that was to have them name themselves,” said Preston. “I told them if they came up with a name for the group and committed to coming to the matches I would get them t-shirts. It really was an attempt to get more people to come to our matches to show that people want to come and we can fill the arena.”
Hamlett, Muhammad, Devilme and Taylor came up with the name, and the Turn Up Squad was born. Since that time, the Turn Up Squad has grown into an integral part of the Coppin State volleyball program.
“I didn’t really think it would take on a life of its own, but I love it. It’s really exciting to see that many fans at our volleyball matches. It’s fun because it’s in the Auxiliary Gym and it gets so loud in there. There are times when I can barely hear and it makes it feel like a real collegiate sporting event,” said Preston.
The Coppin State volleyball players appreciate the support and the enthusiasm the Turn Up Squad brings to the matches.
“We definitely feed off of their energy. Crowd support is really big to us and it gives you more drive to be successful and play well. For me seeing them at the matches and seeing how much they support us just makes me want to fight harder,” said junior Ariel Richard.
Coach Preston realizes the value of having such a strong cheering section behind them.
“I think they really help in regards to momentum in the match,” she said. “When we get a big kill or block or make a nice dig they cheer, but they also help when we don’t have any momentum because they never give up on us. It helps to always have a positive reinforcement.”
The Turn Up Squad also helps to set the tone for the entire match and impacts the other fans in attendance.
“The rest of the crowd feeds of off their energy.” Preston said. “People sometimes don’t know when to cheer during a volleyball match and when they see the Turn Up Squad cheering they know it’s time to get excited and cheer.”
The Turn Up Squad has a specific agenda when it comes to match time.
“As baseball players we are competitive. We want to try and support our girls, but we also want to try and get into the heads of the opposing team,” said Hamlett. “We have their Twitter names and their Instagram names so that way we get their attention and we know who they are. It’s never anything derogatory though, it’s all in fun.”
The Turn Up Squad was in full force when the Eagles hosted rival Morgan State on September 27 in the Auxiliary Gym. After Coppin State won the first two sets Morgan State rallied to win sets three and four setting up a decisive fifth set. The Turn Up Squad was at its loudest during the fifth-set victory for the Eagles.
“We actually take credit for the win over Morgan State. Complete credit for that win,” Hamlett said.
The Turn Up Squad is gaining popularity and notoriety across campus, but it’s an exclusive group.
“Not just anybody gets to become a member of the Turn Up Squad,” Hamlett said. “We have to see you at all the matches, but you can’t just go, you have to act crazy like we do. Once they pass the criteria they can earn a Turn Up Squad t-shirt.”
As the Eagle volleyball team continues to make strides towards winning a conference championship the Turn Up Squad will be with them every step of the way.