As the weather cooled down on Thursday, the handball action heated up as Missouri State University’s Plaster Sports Complex in Springfield, Mo.was buzzing with collegiate athletes as singles and doubles matches continued during day two ofthe 60th US Handball Association Collegiate Championships. The tournament began yesterday and will conclude on Sunday.

Handball is the oldest sport involving a ball and requires high concentration and coordination. The object of the game is to hit a small rubber ball with either hand against a wall in a way in which the opponent cannot return it.

The MSU team, founded in 1988, won the men’s national championship seven times, with the first one coming in 1994 and the latest in 2010, while the women’s team brag 10 national championships, earning their first in 1993, and their latest was also in 2010.

This was the first time I have ever seen handball and photographed it. The sweat blotches on the glass and reflections did not make it an easy shoot, but it was a great time watching competitive matches from players representing schools such as Minnesota, Michigan State, Texas, a team from Ireland and more.

Jeff Streibig, a junior at Missouri State, takes on O’Luins of Ireland on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 at Plaster Sports Complex.

Missouri State’s Madeline Brown dives for the ball on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 at Plaster Sports Complex.

Jeff Streibig, a junior at Missouri State, takes a breather in between his match on Feb. 24, 2012 at Plaster Sports Complex.

Jeff Streibig’s girlfriend cheers from outside court five on Feb. 24, 2012 at Plaster Sports Complex.

Officials keep track of dozens of brackets posted along the hallway walls of Plaster Sports Complex on Feb. 24, 2012 at Plaster Sports Complex.