"We really are just hoping to get them back into a competitive environment," said volleyball assistant coach Kip Hummel about the chance to get back together as a team for the first time in 2021.

Coming off a 21-9 season two seasons ago the Mustangs volleyball team was able to get together in two different groups yesterday afternoon.

"It was nice (to get back together) but it's super strict," said sophomore Kiana Day about their first day back.

Among the procedures put in place for the return includes only half the team together at once, covid testing, wearing of masks when near others, and each athlete has their own equipment. For volleyball, that means each athlete has their own ball and doing individual work with the ball along with conditioning.

"We hope that if we stay within the parameters they'll open us up to actual competition in our pods where we can share balls," said Day who despite being a sophomore this school year has plans to return to Delta in the fall so she can play another year.

While this year will not count against their athletic eligibility it remains to be seen how many will return in the fall for another year as athletes will have to decide if coming back for another year makes sense for them.

While volleyball this school year has not happened at Delta College there has been some college volleyball played elsewhere with one former Delta Mustang wrapping up an impressive two years at Fresno State.

A two-time AVCA Junior College All-American while with the Mustangs Amilya Thompson had 253 kills in her first season with the Bulldogs before being asked to be the setter this past season as she led the team with 291 assists.

Over the last three seasons, led by head coach Molly Mordaunt-Hummel, the volleyball team has gone 21-9, 18-9, and finished as the state runner up during a 25-5 season so expectations will once again be high once the Mustangs can retake the court despite the uncertainly of when that will be and who might still be with the team.