By Annabelle Del Bosque — Reporter
The COVID-19 pandemic has paused practically everything, including America’s favorite espace from reality: sports.
With vaccines being rolled out and positive cases slowing down, the sports world is trying to pick up where it left off.
There are new protocols in place to ensure the safety of the players, the coaching staff, the physical trainers and the fans.
San Jose State University cleared some sports to begin playing, one of them being women’s volleyball.
The Spartans’ schedule has them playing away from their usual home in Yoshihiro Uchida Hall (YUH).
“Kind of not being in YUH’s heat is nice and a little easier to wear masks,” junior middle blocker Haylee Nelson said.
YUH had the Spartans feeling a little confined even before masks, but there are still difficulties that have arisen from wearing masks on the court.
Volleyball requires constant communication between teammates, which is now a challenge because of the masks.
“A lot of communication gets lost behind the mask.” Nelson said. “It has been an adjustment.”
One of the consequences is players quickly pulling down their masks to say something to their teammates.
The COVID-19 restrictions have been all about adapting.
“Breathing is hard in a mask especially after a long rally,” freshman middle blocker Allyson Alden said.
Alden is a middle blocker which requires her to jump anytime the ball crosses the net.
The team had no special training on how to play wearing a mask.
“We kind of just got used to it,” redshirt senior outside hitter Latahevai Lousi said.
Initially there were a lot more breaks being taken during practice, but gradually the team had to revert back to as close to normal as possible even with the masks.
When the mask gets too wet from sweating, they switch it out for a disposable one and continue to play or practice.
“Some girls have noticed it is easier to breathe in them because of the material,” Lousi said.
Despite following COVID-19 protocols, there has been some backlash towards the team.
“All student-athletes are being under scrutiny because schools aren’t in session,” Lousi said.
The student-athletes are allowed to practice, participate in games and travel while students continue to attend class from home.
Many student-athletes are grateful to play during the pandemic even with the strict protocols.
Lousi understands that if she has to wear a mask while playing to be safe, she’ll do it.
“We don’t want to but we do it,” Lousi said. “When you put things into perspective, it is more about doing the right thing than what’s convenient.”
The team travelled to Idaho earlier in the season to play against Boise State, and something stood out.
The Broncos weren’t wearing masks for game one like the Spartans were.
“Everybody was like ‘what the heck?’” Nelson said.
The team was slightly confused about it but had to consider that every county and state is different.
“I was very surprised,” Alden said.
The Broncos entered the court and warmed up in their masks but did not have them on during the match.
The Mountain West doesn’t require athletes to wear masks and neither does Boise State. The Broncos practice without masks as well.
The MW gives teams the decision whether or not to wear masks in games.
The Spartans opted for the former.
“We are used to playing in masks,” Nelson said. “Find it safer to play in masks.”
The masks allow the players to stay healthy.
There was some difficulty when the team traveled up to Colorado to play Air Force where there is a higher elevation.
“It was really hard to play with a mask on,” Alden said.
There were many long rallies in this match too which had the Spartans taking moments to catch their breath before continuing on.
They noticed with long rallies, in general, it is hard for them to catch their breath and keep performing their best.
Post 2021 Season:
The team finished 7-9 and was the only team in the MW to play all 16 spring games.
“That speaks volumes to all the stigmas we get with people not agreeing with sports going on right now,” Lousi said.
This was achieved by following the mask mandates and sticking to the protocols the team had set for itself.
They wore their masks everywhere: in the weigh troom, the practice gym, during games and during any activities that required them to leave their homes.
Putting on their masks, it allows them everybody around them to be safe and continue doing what they love to do.
“Our program set a good standard as to what it looks like to be able to play all your games,” said Nelson. “And to be able to travel well and be disciplined enough to do that.”
Unlike other college volleyball teams, there were no hiccups with possible positive cases and the Spartans were able to play all their scheduled games.
The strong-willed Spartans carried on the motivation from the first day they were allowed back onto the courts to the last game of their season.
They worked hard for the not-so-normal season and showed SJSU’s administration how dedicated and grateful they are.
“I’m proud of my teammates and I for doing that,” said Nelson.
Any struggle the team had to endure they embraced it and worked with one another.
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This is unlike any season the players have participated in before, which led them to notice things they hadn’t before.
With no fans at their homes games and limited fans at some away games, the atmosphere was different.
“It’s a little bit more competitive,” said Nelson. “You can hear the exchanges.”
Hear the opponents conversations gives the Spartans the feeling of aggression one gets from a contact sport.
They are more focused on the court without sideline distractions.
“Rather than people screaming at you for something like a mistake you made or a good play,” said Alden. “It definitely keeps you more in the moment.”
There were some benefits of having limited or no fans at games.
Another one being for the freshmen, as they played their first collegiate games with no added stress from the fans, especially at the universities with typically packed houses.
“A whole new level of volleyball being played,” said Lousi.
There was a learning curve but the student-athletes continued to pursue the COVID-19 season with passion and diligence.
For the following volleyball season, the team is adding back their preseason and will continue to wear masks, if that means being able to play.
“We’ve already done it,” said Nelson. “It’s safe and helps slow the spread on our campus and when we visit other campuses.”
Sticking to the mask mandate, it allowed the team to finish out all their games and dig in next season with the chance of fans and more traveling.
Follow Annabelle on Twitter @BosqueAnnabelle
