MORGANTOWN — In early March 2020, the gym inside University High was jammed pack with fans for Morgantown and UHS for the boys’ basketball Region I, Section II championship, especially the students sections.
Little did anyone know at the time, that would be the last time for 18 months the “U Zoo” and “Rowdy Society” would have their friendly, and sometimes PG-rated, banter back and forth.
The COVID-19 pandemic completely shut sports down for the remainder of the school year in spring 2020, then the following year, the fall and winter seasons were limited to just household members of the participating players. No fans, no students, no atmosphere.
But finally, during the first indoor sport meeting between the Hawks and Mohigans this year in Tuesday’s volleyball game, student sections for both schools showed up and got involved like they haven’t been able to cheer for a year and a half.
“It was great, even for both sides, the student sections were alive,” MHS coach Erica Manor said. “It’s a really great environment, I’m glad to be back in it and happy to come out and do what we do.”
Manor’s Mohigans earned a tough 3-1 win (25-18, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17), but momentum shifted constantly throughout all four sets, which allowed each student section to give their counterparts and ear full. With the completion of each set, whichever team won had their student section count to 25.
UHS coach Don Godfrey, during his team’s furious comeback to win the third set to force a fourth, was throwing his arms up to get everyone to yell louder, and they obliged.
“It was great to have them support us and I hope they come back,” he said.
There even some football banter back-and-forth, with the U Zoo reminding the Rowdy Society about an “0-2” start.
It was something sorely missed last school year.
“I’m glad their peers came out to support them, and I know our players thrive off of this environment,” Manor said. “It does mean a lot to this program and these girls that they have this kind of support for this sport.”
Monongalia County Schools requires everyone to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status, and the rules were followed by a vast majority of those in the stands.
MHS (5-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead, and for UHS, despite their 3-1 record, was no surprise. In all four of their matches, the Hawks lost the first set. They were able to come back and win the first three, but were bitten against the Mohigans.
“They outplayed us, we just made a lot of mistakes that killed us and they took advantage of it,” Godfrey said. “Every match we’ve played so far, we’ve gotten off to a slow start. We’ve lost that first set every match, and you can’t do that against good teams. It’ll just kill ya.”
For MHS, Kaitlyn Anderson and Paige Brock each had 15 kills to lead the team, while Brock also had 23 assists. Asia Halbritter had 16 digs, Emily Goldcamp had two blocks and Isabel Grushecky had two aces.
The Mohigans will play in a tri at Philip Barbour on Thursday along with Parkersburg.
For the Hawks, Payton Faulks had 17 assists and Madison Mulhall had eight kills.
UHS will host John Marshall at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
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