The wait is finally over
Mary Margaret Ellison, Sports Editor
On Jan. 14, the 309-day streak of no games came to an end with the first men’s volleyball match. Men’s and women’s basketball started their seasons on Jan. 15.
“Conference Carolinas has every intention to find a way for the athletes to keep playing, but it is always a moving target,” said Zach Epting, NGU Associate Athletic Director.
Image courtesy of NGU Athletics
Epting explained that trying to play sports during this uneasy time will be challenging, but the staff that makes up NGU Athletics is relying on athletes and coaches to stay safe and do their part.
The athletic department has started and will continue to test several hundred athletes each week. “It is our best efforts to make sure that each student-athlete is safe,” Epting stated. “We are trying to minimize the spread and follow NCAA and Conference Carolinas guidelines.”
Fall sports will be playing abbreviated schedules. The men’s and women’s soccer will have conference-only games. NGU football will have three scrimmages and women’s volleyball will have conference-only games as well.
Spring sports will be playing a full schedule which includes conference and non-conference games.
“The exciting part [about sports being able to happen] is that everyone, even the conference, wants to compete,” Epting said. “Everyone wants to play if possible.”
The revolving question remains: are fans allowed?
As of right now, for indoor sports, there are no fans allowed. The North Greenville Sports Network is broadcasting each basketball and volleyball game. Epting mentioned that the goal in the future is to have some fan base allowed.
Image courtesy of NGU Athletics
The athletics administration team has released Phase 1 of Spectator Guidelines for outdoor sports which includes softball, lacrosse, soccer and baseball. Each field has detailed guidelines that can be found here.
The first home game for each fall and spring sport that has yet to begin their season is as follows:
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Women’s Lacrosse: Friday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. vs Limestone University
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Men’s Lacrosse: Saturday, Feb. 6 at noon vs University of Montevallo
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Softball: Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. vs. Carolina University
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Baseball: Friday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. vs. Newberry College
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Men’s Soccer: Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m. vs. Chowan University
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Women’s Soccer: Sunday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. vs. Chowan University
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Women’s Volleyball: Friday, Feb. 26 vs. Southern Wesleyan University
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Each game will be broadcast on the North Greenville Sports Network.
Be sure to keep up with games, times and COVID-19 protocols here as well as the NGU Athletics social media accounts.
