Among the positives to come out of this year were the highlight reels that came along with having every game streamed over the internet.
By James Kinneen
Hometown Weekly Reporter
While the Walpole volleyball team likely would rather have ended their season with a win, rather than a straight-set loss to the Braintree Wamps on Thursday night to set their final win/loss total at 6-6, overall, Coach Karen Clemons was just happy to have gotten to play - and more specifically, to have gotten to play without some of the stricter, game-altering COVID regulations the Fall I season teams did.
“I think it went as good as it could with the restrictions we had in place,” she explained “Thankfully, we didn’t have to follow the 'Fall I' protocols: specifically, the three-foot line rule they had in place. So overall, it was playing volleyball again, which was nice. We were still following protocols like wearing masks and wiping down the balls and the equipment, but overall, we were just thankful that we were able to have the opportunity to get on the court again.”
The aforementioned three-foot rule stipulated that players weren’t allowed within three feet of the net to either attack or defend, which would obviously vastly change how every game of volleyball is played. Without having to deal with this, Clemons explained that her stars were able to shine.
“The players who stood out were Ali Fair, who played all around for us this year - both front row with her hitting and blocking, and back row with her defensive plays. Also Shannon Jordan, front row middle, with her hits and blocks, and Morgan Dority, our setter.”
While Walpole beat Braintree (in the first matchup of their Tuesday/Thursday home and home series), Framingham and Weymouth, Coach Clemons pointed to a five-set loss against Newton North as the game that most stood out to her on the year, noting that “although we ultimately did not come away with a win, the girls did a great job, they played as a team and it was probably one of our better matches.”
Another pair of games Coach Clemons could have pointed out took place during the first week of the season, when COVID-19 contact tracing left the team without all their coaches. Clemons brought in some other coaches and a former player returned to help, but overall, the team was determined, focused and knowledgeable enough about the game to be able to play.
When pressed on if it was tough to motivate the team with no playoffs or opportunity for a championship, she said it was. But while most coaches focus only on the sport they coach, Coach Clemons pointed out that her seniors (she has four on the team) appreciated getting to play, since they have had so many other things taken away from them by COVID-19.
“Yes, but I think they were just all excited to have the opportunity, especially all the seniors. That class alone has had a tough two years with not getting in-person school last year, and then not returning to full in-person this year, not getting their prom, and not having all their little celebrations. The senior class has had a rough go around, so they were just thankful to get the opportunity to play. But yeah, with the short season, coming together as a team, dealing with players where this was their first sport, dealing with remote learning, there was a lot to have to work with, but the girls did a good job overall.”
One good thing to come out of the pandemic was the increased use of streaming. Walpole’s games were all available online, including some neat highlight reels that work both as a self scouting tool, and a scouting tool for players who want to compete at the next level.
“They weren’t that concerned that spectators wouldn’t be allowed, but the good thing that came out of it was the livestream. I think overall, the parents were able to watch even though they weren’t allowed in the gym - but even family members that were out of state were able to watch their players, which was a good thing. Hopefully that will continue for those out of state family members. We brought in Hudl this year. That was new to us this year, so it keeps stats and downloads little highlight clips for the girls to both watch themselves play and for if they are going to continue to play in college.”
