SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Point Loma women’s volleyball team thought they’d be playing their quarterfinals in sunny Jacksonville, Florida, but a scheduling change brought them instead to snowy Sioux Falls. Despite the cold, the team’s energy has remained high as they advanced to the national semifinals.
“We were actually kind of excited because last year it was in Sioux Falls and we had hoped to be here last year, so we were mentally preparing for it, so here we are this year,” said Jonathan Scott, Point Loma’s head volleyball coach.
The team wasted no time embracing their unexpected winter environment.
“This is a crazy, weird, silly group, so immediately they saw snow, and they just charged it head-on. So, there was no adjusting; it was just, ‘What can we play with? That looks fun!” Scott said.
Even the coach found himself adjusting to new wardrobe requirements.
“I have never worn a parka in my life. I have Rainbows, and I have volleyball shoes,” he admitted.
Players, many of whom had never seen snow, found the simple pleasures, like finally getting to wear a winter coat.
“I was just ready to have the parkas. The soccer team always gets to have the parkas, so I was excited to be able to wear one. Honestly, I’ve never worn a parka before,” said Jolyna Salas, the team’s setter.
When it came to walking on ice, well, that was a whole new sport.
“I was just trying not to slip. My coach was just like, ‘Don’t slip on the ice, ’ so I was stepping like this and was like, ‘Okay, won’t slip on the ice!’” Salas said.
The team’s first snowfall turned into an impromptu outdoor celebration.
“A lot of our team hasn’t seen the snow, so we were all in Starbucks, and it started snowing, and everyone was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s snowing!’” Salas said. “So we all ran outside, and it was pretty cute. Yeah, right now it’s 70s, 80s still in December, so for Christmas we all go to the beach and go to the ocean. We put Christmas trees on the sand at the beach and decorate them. It’s a California Christmas.”
It didn’t take long for things to turn competitive off the court.
“I was just minding my own business getting my bags out, and then, there’s a girl on our team named Finn, and she decided to come throw a snowball at me, so I was like, ‘Okay, I guess this is war,’” said Salas. “So then I started getting snowballs and throwing them at everyone, and I was like, ‘Alright, game on.’”
Hailey Wilson, a defensive specialist, said the team was still adjusting to cold-weather gear and footwear.
“I don’t think coach packed any other shoes, so he’s just been in flip flops, just embracing it. I’ve seen him wear his parka once, and that would be today, so he is freezing out there, I just know it. He won’t admit it, but I know he is, I know he’s freezing,” Wilson said. “None of us have cold weather clothes so we all just kind of came here with what we’ve got and then the parkas that were given to us saved us a little bit, but I mean I’m out here in flip flops and shorts as we’re talking right now so I mean none of us were really prepared for the weather, that’s for sure.”
Sightseeing in the area offered more surprises.
“And we went to go see the Sioux Falls, and there was just ice everywhere you couldn’t avoid it, so we were all walking on ice trying not to slip, so it was really funny. That was a really cool experience. I had never seen a waterfall that has like icicles all over it and the snow everywhere; that was a really cool spot to see for sure,” Wilson said.
Wilson also appreciated the rare snowy Christmas experience.
“I was just so excited that I was able to see the snow for Christmas this year and just being in the snow having snowball fights, snow angels, it’s just so different from what I have at home, so that’s just been the coolest part for me for sure,” she said.
Their favorite part about Sioux Falls?
“Being here. This is our first time here, and seeing all this amazing competition and all of these wonderful girls. It takes a lot of hard work to get here, and I’m just really proud of everyone,” she said.
Even amid the cold, the team felt the warmth of support from fans back home.
“I have gotten some texts from people back home that have been watching, and I just appreciate it so much, and it’s so nice to know that people from home are supporting me and everything, so I just want to say thank you to them,” Wilson said.
Despite the cold, snow, and ice, Point Loma says they are embracing both the weather and the competition, while having fun along the way.
The Point Loma official athletics page can be found here.
More information on the NCAA DΙΙ volleyball championship can be found here.
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