Women’s Volleyball Back in Action at Kean

By Ruben Nieves | Published by April 8, 2021

Kean women’s volleyball will once again be taking the court this spring, after not having a season during the fall and having their game of the season be cancelled due to health and safety protocols.

Head coach Don Perkins, despite the first game of the season being cancelled due to NJCU having some health issues, is still confident the season will be completed.

“The NJAC is going to hand a trophy to somebody,” Perkins said. “I do think all the teams are trying to do what is best.”

After not having the season start in the fall, Britni Jaskot, a senior setter, is ready to compete once again.

“I am very grateful to have a season this year,” Jaskot said. “I am also very grateful to have my senior season, it could have disappeared, but instead I have five games and five is so much better than none.”

Jaskot looks to stay positive during her final year of college volleyball.

“My expectations for this season are to stay positive no matter what happens,” Jaskot said. “This is my last year of college volleyball and I am very grateful to have this opportunity to still play.”

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Perkins does not believe it will affect the mindset of the team going forward.

“They’re not too concerned about it,” Perkins said. “Once the ball goes in the air I think it feels incredibly normal compared to everything else.”

Just like the rest of her team, Michelle Froehlich, a senior outside hitter, has been taking the necessary precautions to stay safe during the season.

“We all take the necessary precautions to make sure we are all safe and healthy,” Froehlich said. “It’s been tough having games canceled and missing players due to COVID, this season is about adapting and being able to perform in any situation we’re put in.”

Froehlich looks to be a better leader for her team this season.

“This season I want to lead my team as best I can,” said Froehlich. “I want to make a difficult year a little better.”

With other schools cancelling their sports, Froehlich feels lucky that her team is having a season.

“We’re extremely lucky to have a season,” Froehlich said. “Kean has created a safe way for all sports to have some type of season, I’m excited to see where this season takes us.”

Due to the pandemic, Perkins and the rest of the team will be working with a much smaller roster this season compared to previous seasons.

“We’re down to 12 players,” Perkins said. “We have also had three players that opted out of this season.”

Jaskot describes playing with a smaller roster as different.

“No one is sitting on the side in practice anymore because we do not have extra personnel, that gives us extra reps in practice,” said Jaskot. “Sometimes players have to miss practice and we would have to adjust and possibly have the assistant coach jump in.”

Despite it being difficult having a smaller roster, Froehlich believes it brought the team much closer.

“Some days we won’t have enough players to scrimmage because girl’s have class and other obligations, we also have to be careful when we play to avoid injury due to a limited roster,” Froehlich said. “This year has made us closer considering we have a smaller team.”

After having their first game postponed, Perkins considers getting into the gym a win for his team.

“Every time we get into the gym I consider it a win,” Perkins said. “I’m not going to take anything for granted, every time we get a chance to play, whether the scores say we won or lost just getting to play is a win.”

Despite the setbacks and a smaller roster, Froehlich believes her team can end the season with a championship.

“I think we can win the NJAC,” Froehlich said. “We are a hard-working team with experience and competitiveness.”

Jaskot is coming into this season working hard in practice and treating it like it is her last.

“My expectation for my team this season is to come into practice like it could be our last,” Jaskot said. “We can get shut down due to the virus or we can finish this season and if we can play our hardest in practice it will not be for nothing.”

Just like her teammate, Jaskot believes her team can win a championship this season.

“We play our hardest in practice everyday making ourselves and our teammates better to win the NJAC,” Jaskot said.

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