Safety comes first but with prep volleyball in winter, ‘It just won’t be the same’

The California Interscholastic Federation announced Monday it will postpone fall sports until December or January, and some of the top players and coaches in the Sacramento region say they would rather wait than take a risk on the coronavirus.

St. Francis High School Volleyball coach Alynn Wright does not want a season until it is safe for the athletes and the coaching staff.

“I hope we have a season even if it’s later in the year or shorter,” Wright said. “I want the seniors to have their opportunity to lead and strive to reach the team goals we set. The safety of the team and coaching staff is the highest priority.”

“The kids are missing the touches on the ball which will leave their skills rusty,” she continued. “They are missing the camaraderie of being on a team and representing their school. The seniors are missing their opportunity to lead. They look forward to carrying on our tradition and leaving their mark on the program.”

St. Francis made it to the first round of the 2019 CIF State Championship in the open division and is ranked 27th in California, according to MaxPreps.

Kennedy Crane, a rising senior, is an outside hitter for the Rocklin High Thunder.

“As a high schooler it felt like it was going to be just a break and a fun time to hang out with friends but then social distancing hit,” she said about the initial shutdown at the beginning of the pandemic. “I thought that everything would go back to normal by mid summer and we would continue on with conditioning for high school and start playing.”

Crane said when her coach told the team that conditioning was canceled was when she first started to realize they might not have a season. “I was really sad because high school volleyball is my favorite part of the year.”

Crane has been able to practice, she said. Doing online workouts with a trainer, then playing volleyball in a park with her friends two times a week.

“I will miss playing with a crowd and being able to do team bonding at the lake,” she continued. “I know we will still get a season but it just won’t be the same. I will miss all the fun activities you do at the beginning of your senior year. I do wish everything goes back to normal but I hope everyone is healthy first.”

Rising junior Georgia Remmers is a middle and opposite hitter for the Thunder. She said she was worried about the pandemic’s effects more than the personal loss of a volleyball season.

Remmers said she is disappointed and anxious about what is to come after hearing the season would be postponed.

“However, I understand that it is most important to look out for the health of others, and take every precaution.” she said.

She has been training at home, along with going to physical therapy once a week at a local gym.

“I’m going to miss everything we would look forward to during the fall season, such as homecoming games, rallies, and the way our whole community comes together at the beginning of the year to support fall sports,” Remmers said.

You can read CIF’s full statement about their decision to delay fall sports here.

This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 12:29 PM.