Women’s volleyball team captains Emma Parkhurst ’21 and Dorothy Poucher ’21 returned to campus this fall, like dozens of other Hamilton athletes, after finding out in July that their senior competition season was cancelled. The Athletics Department has made it possible for teams to practice and compete with each other while still following campus-wide restrictions. Both Parkhurst and Poucher described their mixed feelings on the unique circumstances this semester, especially when they would usually by now be in the peak of the NESCAC volleyball season. Poucher said, “I am used to spending weekends on the road, running from class everyday to get to practice, and getting team dinners each night. It is weird to be spending less than 5 hours a day with the team, but I am glad that we get to spend time together at all given the circumstances. It is also nice to still have a physical outlet, especially with all of the other stressors of this semester and time in the world.”

The team started out practicing with six team members at a time, only allowed to do individual or partner work. Parkhurst explained, “At the beginning, it was definitely hard going through the motions of practicing, lifting, and training without knowing if we will have the opportunity to compete in the spring. I am grateful to be here at all though, and have the opportunity to enjoy playing my sport with my teammates while I still can.” As the weeks have passed, they have started full-team practices again with more competitive drills, which Parkhurst noted has been “a lot more enjoyable.”

Parkhurst and Poucher are also in the midst of their senior year course loads, finishing their majors in Neuroscience and Creative Writing, respectively. Poucher said, “Thesis has added a lot of pressure to this semester as well as requiring a lot more time and space than a regular class would. However, it is also exciting to get the chance to work on one creative writing piece over such a long period of time. It’s so cool to read what the other majors are working on during workshop because everyone’s work is so different from one another.” Even with all the stresses felt by all this semester, both students are finding ways to remain positive. Parkhurst said, “Usually, volleyball takes up a large proportion of my schedule in the fall, so it has been nice to have some more time to do things as simple as going on more walks to appreciate all of the fall colors and enjoy dinners with my suitemates.” Poucher added, on a similar note, “Being from Florida, I’m loving being able to have another fall here. Nothing beats the leaves and the crisp air.”

As a setter and now third-year captain, Parkhurst led the team last season with 387 total assists. Poucher played in every set and match during the season, recording 1.79 kills per set and leading the team in service aces with 37. Parkhurst and Poucher are part of a class that has been the heart of the Hamilton volleyball program for the past three years. The other two senior team members, Nikki Matsuoka ’21 and Kayla Ortiz Self ’21, are studying remotely this semester and hope to return to campus in the spring. They all comprised the first class of first-years for current Head Coach Kristin Baker. Although it remains unclear if a competitive spring season will be permitted given the circumstances, all four seniors have undoubtedly left their own permanent legacy on the culture of the program.