From La Casita to the Cowpoke to C-Punch, triple-digit temps have crowded out the coronavirus as a topic of conversation in Lovelock. Initially, the high school volleyball team began its conditioning sessions at sunset, but lately, the day’s heat lingers through the night.
The coaches decided to switch to early morning practices. Now the girls meet on Joe Yanni Field Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a. m. They took the change in stride.
“They’re super-stoked that they get to be around each other even for a short time,” said Coach Monica Halverson. Nancy Meissner and Leah Holland assist her. “We are offering the volleyball girls a chance to work out every day.”
For now, the team devotes the rest of their week to virtual workouts, an honor system of physical challenges that began earlier in the summer. Coach Halverson compiles each participant’s training selfies into a video collage.
Once school starts, on Aug. 24, she’ll assess the next move.
“I’m hopeful that we can get into the gym to work on our volleyball skills sometime in November,” she said. “With all the changes with Covid, we’re trying to make it fun and meaningful for each of the girls.”
Explosive jumps, rapid changes in direction, landing, cutting and planting are part of every volleyball game. Each move combines to keep the ball in play.
“Conditioning works on our endurance and overall coordination and core strength,” said the coach. “It’s the foundation for all volleyball skills.”
So far, seven girls have joined in on the biweekly sessions on the athletic field.
Taylor Garland, Anna Happy and Morgan Swindlehurst are freshmen, but not strangers to the volleyball court.
Sophomores Kaydance Happy, Kaylen Halverson and Andrea Canchola bring more experience. Junior Presley Burrows completes the team.
“They have great attitudes about what’s happening,” said Halverson.
On Thursday some felt the burn caused by weeks of quarantine, but they persevered through push-ups and sprints. “The main thing right now is to get them active,” said the coach as the girls leaped from one step of the bleachers to another.
“Lower body strength helps with defense and jumping,” she said. Halverson and Meissner kept an eye on technique while Holland demonstrated the exercises, leaving for McDougal Field to play in the Lovelock Softball Association’s final game of the season.
Going in, the coaches were unsure about the probable turnout. Just days before, the NIAA announced the postponement of volleyball season until Jan 2021. They also shortened it to six weeks and scrapped the state championship tournament, a disappointment to girls that made it to the playoffs last year.
“It might take a lot of nudging to get them here,” Halverson mused at the time. “I hope they surprise me, and we can make this a time they all love.” Seven Lady Mustangs exceeded her expectations.
“I got a lot of participation and hope to see more girls attending,” said Halverson after the first week of practice. “They told me they were sore but felt good about doing the workouts.”
“Our theme for our season is TOGETHER. We’ll get through the challenges placed before us, build each other up and grow closer as a team together.”
