By James Whiteford
The exciting start to the first-ever Division I season has begun for the fall sports at Bellarmine, months later than expected after the Covid-19 pandemic caused them to be cancelled.
The delayed season means many schedule changes for these student athletes, including games, practices, workouts, classes and social life. The seniors on the team now face the abrupt end to both their college and sports careers in May.
“I was expecting to finish my last volleyball season in the fall, so it does feel different for my senior year of school and the volleyball season to end at roughly the same time,” senior women’s volleyball player Abbie Oetting said.
The women’s volleyball team began its season play Jan. 24, at Western Kentucky University. The team played two matches, beating the Mercer Bears 3-0, and losing to Western Kentucky University 3-0.
The team followed up with two matches this past weekend at home against Xavier University on Saturday and Butler University on Sunday. The matches went to Xavier 3-1 and Butler 3-2, dropping the Knights’ season record to 1-3.
Oetting said: “Our preparation changed in that we practiced more than ever before. We were able to practice as if we were in the regular season the entire semester.”
The extra practices throughout the fall helped the volleyball team get dialed in and ready to play well in the first match.
“The fall semester allowed the team to focus on getting better on the court and in the weight room,” Oetting said. “Now, in the spring we only had 13 days of practice before our first game, so it was helpful that we have had an entire extra semester to prepare for the season.”
“We had to quickly change our mindset to the fall season now being our ‘spring season,’ said senior Karleigh Wilson, “which is a time we normally use to break aspects of our play down and refine our skills.”
Readjusting practice schedules is never easy, even under “normal” conditions.
“We had a normal practice schedule. We were able to work with compliance to figure out our hours per week,” volleyball head coach Jenni Grzebin said. “Our whole team was at practice, but we would break down positionally and do some training. But we weren’t sure if we’d be shut down the next week, so it was just very disjointed to be honest.”
Besides volleyball, other fall sports, including soccer, have moved to a spring season.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams will also begin their inaugural Division I seasons in early February.
The men’s soccer team played a scrimmage against Spalding University Saturday. The exhibition match intends to prepare the team for its first game of the season, which is against the University of Kentucky in Lexington on Feb. 5.
The women’s team scrimmaged Western Kentucky University on Jan. 23 and will open up its season at the University of Dayton on Feb. 7.
“We have all been looking forward to competing ever since last season wrapped up, and I believe being able to practice together in the fall has prepared us well for the challenges that lie ahead,” senior men’s defender Eddie Williamson said.
“We are not used to having a season during the winter and the challenges that come with that, but I am confident we will make the best of it,” he said.
The change in season resulted in different feelings from what these athletes are used to.
“Something that once seemed so natural, such as putting on my uniform, will now seem weird in these trying times,” senior women’s defender Ellie Vendergriff said. “The uneasy feeling is the new normal, and I’m excited to explore these ‘normals’ with my teammates, as well as with Bellarmine athletes as a whole.”
Beyond the excitement of simply being able to play, athletes said they are looking forward to the transition to Division I and a new list of skilled opponents.
“It has been a long time coming, but I believe the wait has only made myself and my teammates that much more excited about the opportunity to compete at this level,” Vandergriff said.
“It’s the perfect ending to both my time at Bellarmine as a student, and as an athlete.[This season] is a perfect way to end my Bellarmine career, and close the chapter of being a Knight on the field, as well as in the classroom.” said Vandergriff.
For more information about the sports schedules for the spring, visit athletics.bellarmine.edu.