The cancellation of the spring sports season was a major jolt in the world of collegiate athletics. Teams and individuals all around the country lost the chance to accomplish their goals and dreams. For many individuals, the decision to attend a particular institution is due in large part to the athletic opportunities available. Amidst the ever-changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Rivers Conference is marching on to ensure that athletics resume this fall. Central volleyball coach Jeanne Czipri says that institutions such as Central thrive on the presence of athletics, and she’ll be thankful for any opportunity she and her program get this fall.

“I think at the Division III level, our schools really don’t exist to the level they can exist without student-athletes. I think above 70 percent of our students at Central are student-athletes. So you take out football, both soccers, cross country, tennis, volleyball, you’re losing 300-400 kids from the student population, that this was a big part of their decision to come to school. So I’m just trying to make sure that I’m maintaining an open mind to what happens, and a grateful mind. If we have the opportunity to compete in whatever way that looks like, I’m going to be ecstatic.”

As of now, no plans have been changed concerning the fall sports season, though contingencies are in the works at the conference level. Central is slated to begin the season on September 1st at home against Graceland. It will be the start of Czipri’s fourth season leading the Dutch volleyball program.