Courtesy of North Carolina A&T State Athletic Communications


GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina A&T State volleyball team was set to travel to Italy in March. They were scheduled to visit historic cities such as Milan, Pisa, Florence and Rome.  
 
Those plans came to a sudden halt when university officials stopped all international travel because of a deadly virus that would eventually take more than 200,000 American lives called COVID-19. 
 
Each player was sent back to their respective hometowns as they lamented on the cancellation of a dream trip. The players' and coaches' efforts of fundraising, practicing and preparing for the trip left everyone involved with the program disappointed. 
 
"It's one of those opportunities that don't come along very often," Aggies head coach Hal Clifton said. "For them to have that experiment and be able to visit another country and immerse themselves into another culture for a week, I was excited to share that with them. 
 
"It's extremely disappointing to know they won't be able to experience that. When you have the excitement building up for over a year and everything comes crashing down, it's pretty hard for everyone."
 
At the outset of the pandemic, Italy was one of the hardest-hit countries in the world. By the end of March, Italy had more than 105,000 cases of coronavirus. While saddened by the university's decision, there was a wide range of understanding as to why the decision had to be made. In fact, like other schools across the country, N.C. A&T canceled the remainder of the 2020 spring semester.
 
"We had to go with the flow and whatever life gave us, we had to take it and make something out of it," senior setter Edie Brewer, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Co-Player of the Year, said. 
 
Brewer, who was also a First Team All-MEAC selection in 2019, said she found a way to fill the time away from the court and classroom. 
 
"I was able to spend three months with my (three) sisters and dad. My mom lives in Vegas, so I wasn't able to see her. Being with all of them was super cool since we all live across the country."
 
For the Aggies' other First Team All-MEAC honoree, senior Courteney Pitt, the idea of not going to Italy was one thing. The idea of not having a season in the fall was another. 
 
"For me, it did not hit me at first that we possibly wouldn't have a season," Pitt, who came into 2020 with a chance to become the Aggies' all-time kills leader, said. 
 
She may still have a chance to make program history. There is a chance the Aggies will participate in the MEAC's 2021 spring schedule, and there is also a chance that the NCAA will give volleyball players an extra year of eligibility for the spring. 
 
"We weren't sure what was going to happen. Now, it's like we are going to have a season and that's exciting for me especially since this is my last year," Pitt said. "There was a time when it was like so much was being taken away from me." 
 
Months after hearing their trip to Italy was canceled, the Aggies are back to work in Moore Gym. They are not going to let the trip cancelation stop their drive and determination to get better. They're going to use the fall to train, workout and rest. 
 
Even though this was not what the team or coaches expected, they are happy to be able to be back in school and practicing with one another. Yet the team realizes COVID is still an issue. Junior first-year transfer student Amelie Rupertova, a Czech Republic native, gave insight on the traveling restrictions that hindered her from arriving at the university early. 
 
"I was able to go home, but I had to quarantine for 14 days before I was able to spend time with my family and enjoy myself there," Rupertova said. "But I did not know if COVID would allow me to be able to come here. We did home workouts and prepared ourselves for if we could come. A few days before classes started, I got the news that I would be able to come to the United States. I had to adjust to things super fast when I got here." 
 
While they wait for the spring season, the Aggies are taking safety precautions during this time of COVID to prevent any more disappointment in the future.