The Hilbert Hawks Women’s Basketball team won’t be playing a complete schedule of games this season due to the safety concerns around COVID-19.

Despite these challenges, the team is ready to get back out onto the court for their four scheduled scrimmages this year. The Hawks haven’t played in a competitive game in over a year, but will soon return.

When asked about the feelings about playing in a competitive game again, head coach Amy Senefelder said she had mixed emotions.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time for our first game,” Senefelder said. “Usually we are done with our season at this time, but we are just starting our games in March. So I’m very excited at the opportunity to get some games in, but anxious because it has been over a year since we’ve played.”

The 2021 Hawks will go into this season as a very young team, having no seniors, four sophomores and four freshmen. This opportunity has created excitement for some of the team’s sophomores.

“I guess I’m just excited that we get the opportunity to play with each other, even if it won’t really be the same,” sophomore Ashley Schroeder said. “Especially considering our team is so young. Having a scrimmage season might actually be a good thing.”

The entire team is required to get rapid COVID testing three times a week in order to continue practicing and playing in the scrimmages. Senefelder said that the team continues to abide by the COVID-19 safety guidelines on and off the court. If any player contracts the virus the entire program is forced to shut down for ten days. This has made the players extra cautious in an effort to continue to participate for the shortened season.

Macy Kisner, a sophomore player, said the butterflies are already setting in ahead of the upcoming scrimmage against the Medaille Mavericks. “Every night before a game I always get nervous,” Kisner said. “I watch game tapes of the team we are playing and how I play against them and the things I can improve on, the best ways to guard players and the best ways to score. Considering I haven’t played a game in a long time because of COVID, I am nervous to play because I have no idea how the team is going to work together. Even though we only have a four game season I am ecstatic to be able to play a sport I love even if it’s for a short period of time.”