LBCC Volleyball Team Craving To Be Back On The Court

LBCC Volleyball Team 2020-21

The Linn-Benton volleyball team is craving some healthy competition and they are hopeful to soon start supporting and competing with their teammates on the court instead of virtually.


The volleyball team has been mentally and physically preparing themselves since last summer in hopes of a season. Currently, the team is participating in small group workouts, including weightlifting twice a week. January 18 was the start of practicing within their activity classes and small group interaction. The team and coaches are looking forward to Feb. 1, where they are allowed to practice in a larger group setting within their activity class while still wearing masks and social distancing as much as possible.


Due to Linn County being in the high/extreme risk category it makes it hard to determine the exact date when game play will begin. As of right now, the South region in the Northwest Athletic Conference determined that matches would begin in March and would end the beginning of June.


“We are hopeful that the public health situation and the county risk assessment from the Oregon Health Authority improve so that we can get back to ‘normal’ practices,” Mark Majeski, LBCC athletic director, said.


Jayme Frazier, head coach of LBCC’s volleyball team, explained how much Covid limitations have impacted her team.


“Student athletes have a lot of change and isolation, which can lead to additional stress and anxiety,” she said.


A normal season provides the players with constant interaction with each other between tournaments, travelling, and team bonding. Given the circumstances, this has given the players the opportunity to focus on academics while still being hopeful for what is to come.


“I think the players really miss the day-to-day interactions, Frazier said. “They definitely realize how valuable their teammate time is.”


In a Zoom meeting, Alexis Chapman, a sophomore on the LBCC volleyball team, talked about what she is looking forward to the most.


“I have been waiting to see my team and to just get back to playing on the court,” she said.


With the hope of their season coming closer, the team knows how important it is to wear their masks and follow guidelines.


“They all do an exceptional job on campus following guidelines,” Frazier said. “I think the challenge is -- as it is for so many -- to be sure they are committing to the precautions around other friends and family.”

The players are not able to interact with their teammates like they would in a normal season whether that is doing workouts in smaller groups to try and stay in shape or not being able to scrimmage fully as a team, or not having that competitive atmosphere. 

At a Glance:

What: LBCC’s Volleyball Team

First Match: Sometime in March

Tickets: Free for students and staff

Coach: Jayme Frazier, 28 years as head volleyball coach

Players and positions:

Lauren Witty — Setter/Defensive Specialist

Emily Curtis — Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist

Alicia Vandervoort-Walters — Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter

Sydnie Johnson — Setter/Defensive Specialist

Allison Bedacht — Middle Blocker/Opposite Hitter

Jade Hayes — Libero/Defensive Specialist

Alexis Chapman — Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter

Anna-Kate Treske — Middle Blocker/Opposite Hitter

Kennady Ogden — Opposite Hitter/Setter

Megan Alldredge — Opposite Hitter/Middle Blocker

Marja Annus — Middle Blocker/Opposite Hitter

Shalyn Gray — Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist

Grace Parker — Middle Blocker/Opposite Hitter

Isabelle Wyss — Outside Hitter/Opposite Hitter

Arika Evans — Defensive Specialist/Libero

For more information: https://athletics.linnbenton.edu/sports/wvball/index