91短视频鈥檚 student-athletes didn鈥檛 compete last semester because of COVID restrictions and the cessation of conference competition, but they still practiced, conditioned, and laid strong foundations to prepare for spring semester competition.
In a recent hosted by Director of Athletics Dave King, several coaches shared ways their players have connected.
Women鈥檚 basketball head coach noted that in general, fewer practices 鈥済ave the players the opportunity to not only learn our individual team cultures a little bit more, but learn the new culture on campus.鈥�
She and her staff focused on creating safe spaces for the teammates to be together, she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e used the term, not 鈥榮ocially distancing,鈥� but 鈥榩hysically distancing,鈥� because we want our kids to be socially connected still, so we were really intentional about finding the opportunities for them to do that this semester.鈥�
, who took over the women鈥檚 volleyball program just days before things were shut down in March, said he saw a real desire to spend time together and connect, which made practice times and other interactions especially valuable to creating a new team culture. 鈥淲e talked about culture every single day. We talked about 鈥榳e over me.鈥欌��
鈥淐OVID has taught us there are a lot of different connections we can make,鈥� said women鈥檚 lacrosse coach . 鈥�(We put) a big emphasis on the team chemistry. They were all physically distanced and they had masks on, but we still had a great time and we were able to really connect.鈥�
Along with athletes and coaching staff, King is looking forward to the promise of a return to competition for all sports. 鈥淚 am very proud of the student-athletes and their cooperation with the safety protocols in place during practices this fall,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his gives me hope for the spring when we will need to be extra vigilant in our safety efforts in following 91短视频, ODAC and NCAA protocols.鈥�
Jared Oyer, a senior visual and communications arts major, interned with 91短视频鈥檚 marketing and communications department this semester and spent much of his time documenting the athletics teams.
This photoessay captures practices and the intrasquad scrimmages that some teams were able to play at the end of the semester. We supplemented Oyer鈥檚 photos with others taken for media purposes in order to showcase all of our teams.
Even the masks don鈥檛 obscure the intensity of effort and the devotion of our Royals student-athletes, who persevered under significant challenges and uncertainty this semester.
To keep up with our 91短视频 Royals, visit for schedules, rosters and updated information. Also follow 91短视频 Royals on , and .
Two-time ODAC All-Academic Team honoree (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite School) warms up. She’s entering her junior season under new coach . (Washington, Va. / Rappahannock County) is in the background. (Photo by Jared Oyer)
From left: (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester); (attacking) (Chesterfield, Va. / Matoaca); #14 (Gloucester, Va./ Gloucester); #4 (Chesapeake, Va./Bishop Sullivan), and (blocking) (Mechanicsville, Va./Mechanicsville). For more on the team, which competes in the Continental Volleyball Conference, read the . (Photo by Becca Boone)
From left: (Elkton, Va./Page County), (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) and (Harrisonburg, Va. / Spotswood). Shenk and Fenn are seniors and Parmer a first-year. (Photo by Scott Eyre)
Assistant coach with first-year athletes (from left) (Lorton, Va. / South County), (Broadway, Va. / Broadway), and (Virginia Beach, Va. / Ocean Lakes), who goes on to complete the drill in the photo below. (Photos by Jared Oyer)
(Saxe, Va./Randolph Henry), who played all 19 games during the shortened 2020 season, takes a swing during the annual fall tradition, the “Blue-Black World Series.” is catching. (Photo by Jared Oyer)
Softball players (King George, Va. / Fredericksburg Christian), (Broadway, Va. / Broadway), and (Winchester, Va. / Sherando). For more on the team, . (Photo by Scott Eyre)
(Forestville, Md. / Central), a senior point guard, brings the ball down the court during an intrasquad scrimmage this fall. The business adminstration major earned two academic honors last season as a member of the ODAC All-Academic Team and the NABC Honors Court. (Photo by Jared Oyer)
Sophomore goalkeeper (Fulks Run, Va. / Broadway) was an ODAC All-Academic Team honoree last year.
From left: (Springfield, Va./John R. Lewis), (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg), (Purcellville, Va./ Homeschool) in an intrasquad scrimmage. (Photo by Jared Oyer)
Women’s track and field team member (Alexandria, Va. / T.C. Williams) works out with a weight ball at the outdoor track. (Photo by Kyle Dickinson)
(Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass) works out on the track. (Photo by Kyle Dickinson)
From left: (Lititz, Pa. / Lancaster Mennonite) and (Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) at field hockey practice. (Photo by Jared Oyer)
Cross country runners headed to Highland Retreat for a time trial. (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro) (left) and (Broadway, Va./Broadway) are in the front.(Photo by Allison Shelly)
Special thanks to our intern Jared Oyer (above, in February 2020) for his work over a challenging fall semester. (Photo by Rachel Holderman)