SPORTS The Tower | Sports | Page 8 |September 28, 2020

A leader, an
athlete, a friend
A new season for Alizea Garza shines as team captain in

changes
her final season for Lady Mustangs
Emma Reddin

V
Reporter
Women’s volleyball has gotten the ball
olleyball is a life leadership. Irwin made an offer
rolling in a year filled with surprises lesson,” senior Alizea in May before Garza’s junior
Emma Reddin Garza says. Garza is year, but Garza initially turned

L
Reporter a libero for the Lady Mustang her down. After a second offer in
ady Mustangs volleyball has volleyball team and a leader July, however, Garza joined the
kicked off the season with a among her teammates. With Lady Mustangs.
4-5 record. The team has been two service aces and 39 digs, Irwin spoke about her concerns
through a lot, but they are back on Garza won first defensive for next year without Garza
the court with gusto to kick off player of the week from AMC on the team. Irwin described
their next season. Not even the sports. She played at a junior Garza as a ball of energy who
coronavirus will stop them, though college in Snider, Texas, then was always communicating and
it has changed the settings a little.
With a total of 15, coach Stephanie
Irwin has her hands full of policies and rules
“Volleyball is a life lesson”
- Alizea Garza, senior
about social distancing and screening. Irwin is
working hard to keep the players safe from the virus transferred to CBC. Garza plans hyping up the team.
while keeping them strong and focused. According to Irwin, to use her degree in psychology “Alizea is the kind of person
the team worked hard over the summer to get into shape and and counseling to be a counselor you want to have in your life,
prepare for the season, which is more difficult with all the or social services worker after because she is going to love you
preventive measures in place. graduating. unconditionally, and she’s going
When the ladies first arrive at practice, they are screened. According to Stephanie Irwin, to push you to be your best.”
When games occur, spectators are expected to social Garza’s former coach spoke Irwin says. “Everyone needs an
distance and keep their masks on, despite the heat and highly of her character and her Alizea in their life.”
sweat. The Lady Mustangs do not have to wear their
masks while playing, although freshman Mallory
Gossett mentioned that some gyms they play in
require masks to be worn the moment a player subs
out. Masks are also required during the lengthy car rides to and from
away games.
“We had a meeting,” Gossett says. “They told us the places we
were allowed to go to. So we do have preventative measures in
place.”
“We have to quarantine for two weeks if one person got it,”
freshman setter Molly Murphy says, describing the quarantine
restrictions.
The team has already experienced a virus scare at the beginning
of the semester and had to quarantine for two weeks. No one got
sick, though one person tested positive and isolated for the correct
amount of time.
“We’re thankful that we can play at all,” Murphy says. “Some
teams don’t even have a season this year.”

Freshman Molly Murphy prepares to serve during a Lady Mustang home

Photographer Katelynn Blacklaw game. The volleyball team has a record of 4-5 so far in the season.
Senior Alezia Garza was named Volleyball Defense Player of the Week from AMC
sports with 39 digs and two service aces. Photographer Katelynn Blacklaw

Photographer Marcela Bueno