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ENMU fall sports teams begin workouts

PORTALES - Things are hardly going full-bore yet, but it's a start.

Eastern New Mexico University fall sports teams began workouts in pods this week for the athletes who are on campus, with many restrictions still in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As with New Mexico Activities Association sports, all activities in the Lone Star Conference are not likely to pick up until at least late December with the start of basketball.

Football, volleyball and men's and women's soccer teams are easing toward their seasons, and coaches are happy to be doing that.

"It's been really great to see the kids again," ENMU football coach Kelley Lee said. "Some of them we haven't seen since March."

The Greyhounds have around 43 of their 105 players on campus. Lee said those players and seven coaches were tested for coronavirus, and all came back negative.

"Now we've just got to keep everybody healthy," he said.

The first full practice for the team is set for Jan. 27. Lee said the plan is to bring everyone back in early January.

The Hounds currently have a six-game schedule, including four Lone Star Conference games, beginning with a home outing against Midwestern State on Feb. 27.

Whatever happens, it will certainly be challenging to get through, but Kelley said the team is ready.

"Everyone's facing a number of obstacles," he said. "Whoever can adjust best is who will be successful."

The ENMU volleyball team currently has nine of its 19 players on campus, coach Sia Poyer said. Teams are currently limited to eight hours practice per week, but Poyer said even that's a bit challenging because many athletes are trying to work in addition to dealing with classes.

"It was great to just get out on the court," he said. "It's the first time we've done anything since March, but it's good to get in a gym and practice."

The team is doing weight training from 6-7 a.m., Poyer said, with practices at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The first full practice is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Poyer, who spent 15 seasons as an ENMU assistant under Mike Maguire before taking the head coaching position at Division II Valdosta State (Ga.), said teams just have to do what they can to try to get ready for a potential season.

"We can't scrimmage at all, but you can do stuff in your pods," he said. "We were just happy to get in there and do some drills."

Most matches will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in an effort to avoid conflict with all the other sports going on, at least as much as possible.

The LSC has split the league into three six-team pods for volleyball, with each squad slated to play 10 matches - home-and-home outings against each of the other five teams. ENMU's opener is set for Jan. 26 against Texas-Permian Basin at Greyhound Arena.

Men's soccer coach Jon Fridal, who led the Greyhounds to a school record for wins (12-5-1) in 2019, is equally exited to get something going despite also having limited numbers on campus.

"I felt like a kid on Christmas Day," said Fridal, entering his third campaign at ENMU. "Right now we're (practicing) in pods. We have kids all over the place."

Men's soccer, with a roster featuring numerous international players, is scheduled for a seven-match regular season, all in the conference and most of it within its five-team pod. Matches are slated to be played on Tuesdays, with a conference tournament set for March.

"We met with our athletic trainers yesterday (Thursday) and they took us through the protocols we'll need to follow," Fridal said on Friday. "Most of the guys haven't come back yet for training."

The team will start practice on Jan. 23, with the season-opening match on tap at Lubbock Christian on Feb. 16.

Attempts to reach first-year women's soccer coach Abbey Barnum were unsuccessful.