Mike Neville – Sports Editor
The Owls volleyball team has had its fair share of success in recent years, including a championship.
After successfully winning their first Northeast 10 championship in program history back in 2018, the Owls volleyball team has been a force within the court.
The same cannot be said for the 2019 season as the Owls tied for fourth in the NE10, accompanied by some athletes not playing due to injury.
One of those key players was middle hitter, Kirstin Colwell, a senior, who missed most of the 2019 season with an injury.
Colwell was an important part of the 2018 championship team who appeared in 11 games that season.
A member of the NE10 All-Rookie class her freshman year, now going into her final year, expect big things from the Coconut Creek, Fla. standout if there is a season in 2021.
The Owls will also have to adjust to playing without one of their star players whenever the season Starts up.
The shoes of Tea Carter a setter, who graduated in 2020 and received all Eastern College Athletic Conference honors for her level of play will need to be filled.
Head coach Lisa Barbaro will not have to look far, as there is plenty of young talent that can step up into a greater role for the Owls when the season starts.
Outside hitter Ella White, a hitter, sophomore turned a lot of heads in her first season with the Owls, earning a spot on the all-rookie team along with being one of the only first years to record over 250 kills.
With the departure of Carter, White will have to adjust to a new setter in 2021 and beyond.
Like many other sports, with the fall season being cancelled due to COVID-19, the landscape of the NE10 will be different for the Owls moving forward.
If the volleyball team is to compete in the spring, the Owls will only be facing teams from their own division.
This has the potential to be a major factor this season, as repeatedly competing against the same opponents can become habitual for the Owls.
Although this year will be a major question mark, the Owls’ seniors will have the opportunity to return in the fall of 2021 for an extra year of eligibility if they choose.
No matter what the outcome will be in terms of a season, the future looks bright for Owls volleyball.
