By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
With the school year under way, the Sitka High Lady Wolves volleyball squad has returned to the court to train for a unique season.
Coach Zaide Allen said she’s happy to have her players practicing again, regardless of how the season turns out.
“For them, I think they’re just excited to be back, and everything that we’re getting to do is kind of a win for us… We try to look at it day by day, and week by week,” Allen told the Sentinel.
Sitka High volleyball players pose for a shot in front of the high school, Tuesday. Standing in back from the left are Andrea
Winger, Ava Brady, Jocelyn Brady, Taliah Fredrickson,Chloe Morrison, Dalila Callahan, Morgan Feldpausch, and Michele Winger. Kneeling in the front from the left are TamrynSuarez, Jessie Christner, Eva Jordan, Riley Nutting, Zaeda Dumag, and Reyana Lindstrom. Kneeling at the front, at center are Emily Fenno and Antonete Partido. (Photo provided)
She noted that a recent spike in coronavirus cases in Juneau canceled a planned trip there last week, and the high number of cases in Anchorage precludes travel to the north as well. It remains uncertain if the regional and state tournaments will occur as usual, if at all, this year.
Games between the local rivals, Sitka High and Mt. Edgecumbe High, are still planned, as is possible travel to Ketchikan, Sitka High Activities Director Rich Krupa said. As has become the norm this year, all plans may change.
But Allen said that she tries not to speculate, and instead focuses on more immediate things.
“To me, it’s just amazing that we’re in the gym and able to play and have that sense of normalcy. And so we just look forward to what we can do, and what we know is going to happen,” she said.
Team members made similar comments.
“It’s a lot different than previous years, and just coming back to it we had so much dopamine, finally getting into something, seeing people, even if it is distanced it was so nice to play,” returning junior Taliah Fredrickson said.
She added that, in addition to getting back to practice, she was happy to return to school.
“School has been very interesting – it’s a lot better than last semester because no one had any choice. But the teachers have been super good, it’s been super nice to get back to school,” Fredrickson said.
Sitka schools transitioned to all-online learning in March as the novel coronavirus bloomed into a global pandemic. At the start of a new school year on August 27 schools reopened for in-person education and athletic activities.
Returning senior Morgan Feldpausch said she’s glad to be back on the court, however long the season may turn out to be.
“I think it’s really good that we were able to get in here. Even if the rest of the season gets canceled, a lot of the girls are just happy to be playing now,” Feldpausch said. “I just hope that we do what we can for now.”
Freshman Dalila Callahan said she hopes to play some out-of-town teams this year.
“Maybe just getting started, playing with other teams in Southeast,” she said.
Callahan played volleyball in middle school, but since the Blatchley volleyball season is in the spring, it was canceled when the pandemic struck.
Despite the unusual start to this year’s season, Callahan said she enjoys her new team.
“We’re having a lot of good hustle and teamwork… It’s really fun, new people, new environment, new coaches,” she said.
The players wear face masks when they’re on the sidelines. Before entry, each player’s temperature is checked, and they’re asked a series of health questions, Allen said. Hand sanitizer is readily available in the gym.
To avoid the possible risks of virus transmission among spectators, fans will not be allowed inside during scrimmages or games this year. Instead, volleyball will be streamed live on the Sitka High Facebook account.
The Lady Wolves won the Region V volleyball title for 3A schools last year, toppling the Lady Braves in a tie-breaker match back in November 2019. Sitka High took fourth place among 3A schools at the state tournament in Anchorage.
Allen noted that this year her players are coming onto the court with experience. The team graduated only one senior last year, Tiffany Elefante.
This year, Allen said, she has seven returning seniors: Emily Fenno, Antonete Partido, Jocelyn Brady, Morgan Feldpausch, Reyana Lindstrom, Rean Famini, and Tamryn Suarez.
Allen said she’s coached many of them since they were much younger.
“I’ve known most of them since they were little seventh graders, and it’s really surreal that these girls are now seniors,” Allen said. “I think that for them they have probably been through a lot. It’s really incredible that they know this will be their last season and it’s not going to be what it was going to be. But every one of them comes into the gym and takes it in stride. It’s impressive to see young athletes come into the gym and not let the outside world affect them.”
The Lady Wolves play intrasquad scrimmages this Friday and Saturday. The games will be livestreamed on Facebook. The schedule is below.
Friday, September 11
3 p.m. JV-C Teams Scrimmage
5 p.m. Varsity Team Scrimmage
Saturday, September 12
Sitka High Volleyball
11 a.m. JV-C Team Scrimmage
1 p.m. Varsity Team Scrimmage
Regardless of the future of the volleyball season, Allen said, she is glad that her players are back on the court.
“I feel really lucky and grateful that we are able to be in the gym and playing volleyball,” she said.
