SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University volleyball team has been getting underway with practices. Everyone is glad to back on campus.
"We made it here!," Head Coach Lily Hallock said. "I am so grateful to be on the Willamette campus and in the gym training with the team. We have 12 of our student-athletes on campus this fall and have divided them into two pods of six. They do their lifts and play volleyball within those groups."
In her first season with the Bearcats, everything about the team is new for Coach Hallock.
"This is the first time I have seen the team play (other than watching film)," Hallock noted. "The group is very skilled and they are open to changes, which I greatly appreciate. While having a fall without competition is disappointing, I do think it's a unique opportunity for us to improve as a team."
Also new to the team is Assistant Coach Kendall Bergsten. She joined the Bearcat coaching staff in early August.
"Getting to know and work with Kendall Bergsten has been fantastic," Hallock said. "She and I see eye to eye on most things, and we have lively discussions on those subjects where we differ. The two of us make a great coaching team."
Teammates and roommates Jessica Nash (S, So., Santa Clarita, CA/Saugus HS) and Steele Jasa (S/DS, So. Bend, OR/Summit HS) have gained a lot from the first two weeks of practices.
From Jessica Nash:
How has it been practicing in small groups with masks?
"It's been pretty difficult but I could not be doing it without the constant support from my teammates. This situation has brought out the best in my teammates. Everyone has been extra supportive and understanding and I've leaned on my teammates more than I have in any past seasons for sure."
What have you been grateful for in the last two weeks?
"My teammates! Having fun with them during and outside practice has kept me going. I also live with one of my teammates, Steele. We joke that we're each other's mom while we're away at college. She has definitely been a big help as we adjust to the new life on campus."
What are you looking forward to this semester?
"I'm looking forward to being able to keep practicing. I'm really hoping everyone on campus is being smart about COVID so we can all stay and continue to do what we love."
From Steele Jasa:
Tell us about a funny moment that has happened with teammates since returning to campus.
"During the first week we were on campus we did a team bonding game out on the quad and I think I laughed the entire time. It was a card game where one person read a card aloud that had a statement like 'most likely to be late' and then people would vote who on the team was the most likely. It was a really fun way to help our only first-year get to know us and for us to get to know her."
Where have you already seen improvement for yourself or the overall team?
"Something I have seen as an improvement for the whole team is our mental game. We have talked a lot about having a growth mindset and that it is okay to make mistakes since it is part of learning! So I think this mentality will help us grow immensely because I am already seeing changes in my teammates and me."
How has it been practicing in small groups with masks?
"I really miss practicing with our whole team, but we are making it work! It makes the times we do get to spend as a whole group even more meaningful. The masks get sweaty quickly, but it is worth it to be able to play volleyball. I am so grateful for every day that we get to spend in the gym because I know we are one of the few who are still getting to play."
What have you been grateful for in the last two weeks?
"I am grateful for a team and coaching staff that offer me endless support. I am grateful to be a part of a program and school that is taking COVID precautions so seriously because it allows me to still feel safe while doing what I love. I am grateful for my professors who have really risen to the occasion and have put in a ton of extra time and work to give us the best education possible amidst the chaos and uncertainties of classes this semester."
