COVID-19 has impacted all of us in many ways; but locally, it still affects collegiate athletics. Quarantine and isolation mess with practice schedules, player availability, team relationships, and audience support.
A large part of college athletics is the audience- something that didn’t exist last year. Though crowds were allowed, many chose to not attend for safety, while others didn’t want to comply with CDC guidelines to watch in person.
Addy Vaughn, a sophomore on the UT Martin Volleyball team, says that it was tough playing in an empty fieldhouse with a dwindled crowd, “It was weird playing in such a quiet environment, you know. Playing with no fans and nothing, you’re just, like, you really have to be mentally strong. Because if you’re just sitting there, it’s really easy to just sit there and get in your head, like, ‘Woah, this is weird because it’s so quiet.’”
She says that she’s excited to be back to near pre-COVID normalcy and is excited for things to continue opening back up. If you’d like to support the UTM Volleyball team, you can find their schedule at: https://utmsports.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule/2021
(Photo/ Wyatt Richardson)