A trio of BYU volleyball gamers rise for a block throughout match in opposition to UC Irvine on Jan. 22, 2022, on the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo. In season of problem and battle, the Cougars are nonetheless studying and rising, dwelling within the current however with a watch to the longer term. Matthew Norton, BYU Photograph
March 2020 may simply be the most important perpetrator within the struggles of the BYU 2022 males’s volleyball season.
That spring, COVID-19 modified on a regular basis dwelling, impacting each a part of society. Throughout that point, the sports activities world was turned the other way up, leaving many to marvel how — and when — issues may return to regular.
When that season abruptly ended, BYU was left with a 17-1 report and a No. 1 nationwide rating. With no priority on a untimely conclusion to a season, some questioned if the Cougars ought to be awarded a title.
Others, equivalent to BYU coach Shawn Olmstead, felt that wouldn’t be applicable.
“There was really sort of a casual ballot that was despatched out among the many coaches to award us a nationwide championship as a result of three-fourths of the season had been performed in 2020,” he stated. “I voted in opposition to it simply because I didn’t suppose that was honest to the groups that also had an opportunity to win a nationwide championship had COVID not stopped all of it.
“It’s nice that we completed the season ranked No. 1. We’ll at all times maintain on to that and have that. However you don’t wish to be awarding one thing you didn’t need to compete for. I consider within the worth of competitors. I consider that groups can proceed to enhance over the course of the season, that’s what we’re all attempting to do. Loads of instances it takes just a little extra time.”
When competitions resumed within the fall, school athletes had been granted an additional 12 months of eligibility — one thing that boosted BYU to a banner season in 2021, as the varsity went on to win each an MPSF regular-season title and league event championship.
However these moments of glory might arguably have derailed the 2022 season, stunting the Cougars’ progress and main them to battle uncharacteristically this 12 months.
Final season, the Cougars had been led by seven seniors. This season, the roster is stuffed with 11 freshmen.
“Final 12 months’s workforce was an entire bunch of fifth-year seniors that had come again due to COVID and their season being canceled,” redshirt freshman Teon Taylor stated. “That they had a whole lot of veteran expertise they usually’d performed volleyball for a very long time.”
One can’t assist however suppose an inexperienced 2022 BYU squad is perhaps extra skilled had COVID-19 not ended the 2020 season, loading the Cougars’ roster with seniors a 12 months in the past.
Even so, Taylor and his teammates stay centered on this season and what they'll do at this time. “I believe we simply attempt to concentrate on what we’re doing right here now,” he stated. “We’re attempting to be the place our toes are and play within the current and study from the instance of final season.”
The beginning center blocker has saved tabs on his former Cougars teammates in hopes of drawing from their expertise. “This 12 months, I’ve talked to a whole lot of them. … These guys (from) final 12 months are actually good about serving to us this 12 months and giving recommendation to all of us younger guys.”
Taylor acknowledges that this workforce must continue to learn if it desires to achieve the bar set by the Cougars of yesteryear.
“I believe it’s been cool simply to see the coaches be modern in how they’re attempting to educate us younger guys,” he stated. “They've to show us lots. We don’t know as a lot because the older guys did.”
These older gamers utilized their expertise to perform nice issues at BYU. That greatness, whereas doubtlessly including additional rising pains to this season, has given in the present day’s Cougars a glimpse of what their very own future can maintain with sufficient expertise and laborious work.
“Final 12 months’s workforce grew collectively,” Taylor stated. “They performed with one another for a few years. They knew one another very well. That they had actually good chemistry and actually excessive self-belief.
“For us this 12 months, being so younger, I simply get excited. I believe for us this 12 months and going ahead sooner or later the sky is the restrict. It’s as much as us no matter we wish to make it as a result of we're so younger. We will do no matter we wish, no matter we set our minds to.”
After ready within the wings for an additional season, lots of BYU’s younger gamers are getting their first alternatives on the courtroom. Although 2021 might have added to this 12 months’s Cougars’ rising pains, they're lastly gaining expertise.
Higher late than by no means.