SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Point Loma women\u2019s volleyball team thought they\u2019d be playing their quarterfinals in sunny Jacksonville, Florida, but a scheduling change brought them instead to snowy Sioux Falls. Despite the cold, the team\u2019s energy has remained high as they advanced to the national semifinals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Jonathan Scott, Point Loma\u2019s head volleyball coach.<\/p>\n
The team wasted no time embracing their unexpected winter environment. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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, \u2018What can we play with? That looks fun!\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
Even the coach found himself adjusting to new wardrobe requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never worn a parka in my life. I have Rainbows, and I have volleyball shoes,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
Players, many of whom had never seen snow, found the simple pleasures, like finally getting to wear a winter coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019ve never worn a parka before,\u201d said Jolyna Salas, the team\u2019s setter.<\/p>\n
When it came to walking on ice, well, that was a whole new sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying not to slip. My coach was just like, \u2018Don\u2019t slip on the ice, \u2019 so I was stepping like this and was like, \u2018Okay, won\u2019t slip on the ice!\u2019\u201d Salas said.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s first snowfall turned into an impromptu outdoor celebration. <\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of our team hasn\u2019t seen the snow, so we were all in Starbucks, and it started snowing, and everyone was like, \u2018Oh my gosh, it\u2019s snowing!\u2019\u201d Salas said. \u201cSo we all ran outside, and it was pretty cute. Yeah, right now it\u2019s 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\u2019s a California Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long for things to turn competitive off the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just minding my own business getting my bags out, and then, there\u2019s a girl on our team named Finn, and she decided to come throw a snowball at me, so I was like, \u2018Okay, I guess this is war,\u2019\u201d said Salas. \u201cSo then I started getting snowballs and throwing them at everyone, and I was like, \u2018Alright, game on.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Hailey Wilson, a defensive specialist, said the team was still adjusting to cold-weather gear and footwear. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think coach packed any other shoes, so he\u2019s just been in flip flops, just embracing it. I\u2019ve seen him wear his parka once, and that would be today, so he is freezing out there, I just know it. He won\u2019t admit it, but I know he is, I know he\u2019s freezing,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cNone of us have cold weather clothes so we all just kind of came here with what we\u2019ve got and then the parkas that were given to us saved us a little bit, but I mean I\u2019m out here in flip flops and shorts as we\u2019re talking right now so I mean none of us were really prepared for the weather, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sightseeing in the area offered more surprises. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we went to go see the Sioux Falls, and there was just ice everywhere you couldn\u2019t 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,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Wilson also appreciated the rare snowy Christmas experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2019s just so different from what I have at home, so that\u2019s just been the coolest part for me for sure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Their favorite part about Sioux Falls?<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing 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\u2019m just really proud of everyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Even amid the cold, the team felt the warmth of support from fans back home. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have gotten some texts from people back home that have been watching, and I just appreciate it so much, and it\u2019s so nice to know that people from home are supporting me and everything, so I just want to say thank you to them,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Despite the cold, snow, and ice, Point Loma says they are embracing both the weather and the competition, while having fun along the way.<\/p>\n
The Point Loma official athletics page can be found here.<\/a><\/p>\n