Raymond Volleyball Team
There will be no District IV Volleyball tournament for Raymond HS after two more student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 last week causing the season to end for the undefeated Lady Seagulls. Two weeks ago, three players had tested positive for the virus bringing the total to five.
"We had two JV players test positive in the testing that was done on Monday (March 8)," Raymond HS Athletic Director Mike tully told the Herald last Thursday.
"Because of the additional positive cases and the concern for spread, the health department has advised all of our players and coaches to quarantine through March 17th. This has effectively ended our season because district starts on Saturday (March 13).
"This is a very unfortunate situation with terrible timing," Tully said. "Obviously, the girls were having a great season, and this just stopped them cold. If this had happened two or three weeks earlier, we could have made up games and headed to district. Unfortunately, the timing of everything just didn't allow for that. I think this situation shows what a precarious situation everyone's programs are in."
Raymond's promising season ended with a record of 8-0.
Raymond HS senior Hannah Miller offered her thoughts about the situation.
"After having such a fantastic season, it seemed like we were on top of the world," Miller said Sunday afternoon. "We had high hopes of getting league champs with our 8-0 record, and we're looking forward to districts!
"Finding out that our season was over just like that was incredibly frustrating," Miller added. "We didn't realize our last game would be our last game, which made it that much worse. As a team, we were all devastated, and for us seniors (including Tegen Fleury and Madeline Silvernail), it was heartbreaking.
"I think that the team and others can take this as a learning experience to be more cautious," Miller said. "It was a blessing to have been given a chance to play despite how it ended. We will forever treasure the season we had together. Over these last four years, I've put so much dedication into the RHS volleyball program, and I don't regret a thing. Those girls have become my family, and I wish them the best of luck next year! Now we have traditional spring sports that start Monday to look forward to!"
Miller also competes in basketball and is one of the top hitters on the Raymond HS fastpitch team.