In one classic episode of “Spongebob Squarepants,” Spongebob and his three friends – Penny, Potato Chip and Used Napkin – recite their famous song “Indoors,” with Spongebob singing the words “indoors, indoors, indoors” in a beautiful, melodic tone.

It may be fictional, but that comfort and excitement of being inside demonstrates how the Chapman women’s volleyball team feels after having their first practice inside the Harold Hutton Sports Center in over a year.

Chapman permitted some of its indoor sports, including basketball and volleyball, to return to practices within the confines of the gym Nov. 10. Women’s volleyball coach Mary Cahill and the rest of the team were delighted at the prospect of normalcy.

“They hadn’t played in a long time, so for them to finally touch a ball, they were really happy to do that,” Cahill said.

Despite the return, there are still plenty of COVID-19 guidelines that regulate the team’s activity within the gym. Cahill says they are only able to do basic fundamental training, such as serving and hitting. They cannot work on any blocking, as that would put players in close proximity with one another. 

Additionally, players have been divided up into two separate pods of eight, which practice at two different times twice a week. Those groups are based off of the position they play and residency, with multiple players within the pods living together.

Returning players like junior hitter Sophie Srivastava are playing within conditions they never previously imagined, but they are glad to be back in the gym in at least some capacity. 

“Everybody is super excited,” Srivastava said. “Volleyball players aren’t used to having to run on the field, so we’re glad to be back inside touching the ball.” 

While Srivastava said the practices were not what she was expecting from her past experience on the team, there was also a set of athletes on the team who came in with zero idea what they could expect: the first-year students.

These newcomers, such as outside hitter Chloe Allen, have been excited about gradually progressing toward the freshmen college years they’ve been anticipating since high school. 

“I’ve started to have a few classes on campus,” Allen said. “The best part, though, is I’m able to meet my team now … I can at least feel like I’m having a normal semester.”

While these new practice formats just began, they have given the team hope that there may be a season on the horizon come spring semester.

“As college athletes, it’s more than a sport for us – it’s part of our identity,” Allen said. “We’re all very excited to feel the team chemistry and morale we’ve experienced in the past, and hopefully when we finally get back on the court, we’ll be able to feel the competitiveness too.”