It has been a year marked by difficulty and confusion for Union’s athletic programs. Many obstacles and frustrations have affected our athletes’ opportunities to play the sports they came to play. Amid COVID-19, three of our fall programs questioned if they would be able to play at all: volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer. These teams were not able to have their regular fall championship season, due to the Gulf South Conference’s (GSC) need to cancel. In response, the GSC has announced a Spring Championship Series for its volleyball and soccer programs in the form of a condensed season.
“We have all worked really hard over the fall semester up to now,” Rylee Iorio, sophomore women’s soccer and mathematics major said. “I think we are very anxious to get onto the field and start finally putting together what we’ve been working really hard on in practices.”
This is the first chance freshmen and transfer players will be able to compete wearing the bulldog logo on their jersey.
“We’ve got a lot of talent this year from incoming players to returners, we’re all anxious to get on the field and put Union on the board,” said Iorio. “We want to show our competition the depth and fight our team has. We won’t be overlooked, and we’re a strong opponent each game no matter who we play.”
The volleyball program’s drive is no different.
“When we play our first match of this spring season, it will have been 466 days since the last match we played,” said senior volleyball player and nursing major Meghan Delaney. “It’s long overdue, and I think we’re all so hungry to be back out there competing.”
The team has taken the challenges of COVID-19 and ran with them.
“Our four core values as a team are Faith, Family, Grit, and Gratitude, and we are exemplifying those each and every day,” said Delaney. “We are beyond ready to get back on the court and play some volleyball. We are all unified in the goals we’re reaching for, and we are ready to win a championship this spring.”
The girls on the volleyball team understand how lucky they are that they get to play at all, despite the differences that this season holds.
“Not being able to play for such a long time due to COVID made us all realize how valuable every single opportunity we get to play volleyball really is,” said Delaney. “We’re so grateful to have the ability to be back preparing for another season.”
Iorio and Delaney both mentioned how even though their seasons have changed, their respective teams have grown closer together both on and off the field and court, due to these unique obstacles.
The volleyball team starts their season at home on Wednesday, March 3rd at 7 p.m. against Christian Brothers.
The women’s soccer team starts their season in Livingston, Ala. against West Alabama on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.
The men’s soccer team started their season on Friday, Feb. 12 in Cleveland, Miss. against Delta State and won 3-0. Their next game is on Thursday, Feb. 18 at home against Mississippi College at 4 p.m.
