Allie Spear set to guide Wolves on the back row entering senior season

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Being the last line of defense always carries extra pressure or accountability. For Allie Spear, she helps guide the Western Oregon University volleyball team from the back row at libero making big plays to keep rallies going and helping establish the team for success.

Spear spent the 2019 adjusting from one Great Northwest Athletic Conference school to another. It was a season of learning and growth for the Wolves as although the team ended up with five wins, they proved that they were beginning to find their chemistry later in the season.

"When I think back to last season, what stands out to me most is how different of a team we are now. Not only physically but mentally. We have come so far, despite the challenges, and we continue to work and grow to be the team and players that we have been striving to be," Spear said.

Spear earned an All-GNAC award for her play last season after compiling 413 digs in 93 sets, averaging 4.44 digs per set. She also spun in 24 service aces, good for second on the team. Regardless of the numbers and awards that she earned, Spear remained focused on the team's success first and foremost.

"Honestly, I worked hard and so did my team and I couldn't have gotten that award without them and without them allowing me to be the leader that I have been working and growing to be. This award was an honor, but I think it would have meant more if our season reflected the work that we put in. So next year, or whenever it is that we get to compete again, I know we will have a better outcome and more awards to celebrate," Spear said.

Even though Spear arrived at WOU with two years of collegiate level experience under her belt, it's still an adjustment switching schools and adapting to the change. Entering her second year at WOU, despite the new changes in a pandemic world, her comfortability factor has certainly improved.

"I feel comfortable academically and socially going into my second and senior year at WOU. But when it comes to volleyball I don't want to ever be too comfortable because we have work to do, things to accomplish and I want to always be on my toes and ready for the challenges to come. Being comfortable is not a part of being an athlete," Spear said.

While the fall season was already over last year when everything hit with the shutdown, Spear and the team were working towards a strong routine in the spring that was set to launch them into the 2020 season that has since been put on hold until spring 2021.

"We were going strong in the spring, committing to what we wanted to change and to the team that we wanted to become and that was an amazing feeling. Having it taken away was definitely a hard pill to swallow, but I have tried to stay positive and remember that every other athlete is in the same position. We all got a big part of ourselves taken away, but we had to decide how we were going to react and how we were going to move forward with what we had. It's been a challenge, but all you can do is take it one day at a time and hope for the best," Spear said.

Learning shifted to online in the spring and continued into the fall. The change was sudden and difficult at first, but faced with that as the only option, Spear has adjusted to what has become the new normal.

"The transition to online learning was difficult, but when you don't have a choice, you just have to adapt as well as you can. It is different, but my sights are set on excelling and finishing," Spear said.

Trying to get workouts in and some volleyball playing in were difficult over the summer months as well. While Spear did get the chance to get some volleyball in, it wasn't nearly what she hoped would happen.

"Over the summer I tried to play when I could. Whether it was grass tournaments or outside with other teammates, but our options were very limited. Bottom line, I didn't get to play as much as I wanted to AT ALL," Spear said.

Returning to campus was put on hold for several months as well. With the playing schedule moved later in the fall/winter and eventually to the spring, the return date to campus was delayed. When news finally broke that coming back to campus and returning to practices again would be a reality, the excitement of returning to the new "normal" was finally there.

"I can't even explain the feeling of being back on campus with teammates. I definitely took it all for granted for a while and I didn't think I missed it as much as I would come to know I did once we got it back. We are so lucky to be able to play the sport that we love in college with amazing people that are your instant friends who you all get to push each other, challenge each other, and create so many memories together. It truly is something that I will forever be grateful for," Spear said.

Learning to play with the new "normal" has certainly taken time. Whether it be practicing in separate groups, social distancing or playing with face masks, Spear and the team have adapted the best way they can.

"Probably the biggest adjustment being back would be wearing face masks. No one is necessarily used to it but having to wear it while working out is definitely a whole other challenge. Another adjustment has been freedom and flexibility. There is not a lot of flexibility we can get with going into the gym on our own or even giving our teammates high fives because of restrictions with COVID. Which I totally understand and am not complaining, they are just adjustments that I don't think anyone would have thought we would ever have to make. But despite these adjustments, we are back on campus, playing volleyball, lifting weights and that is incredible and so exciting," Spear said.

Now that a big first step in being back on campus and practicing again is a reality, the next step is to eventually compete in games again. With the earliest set date of that coming in January, hope remains high that a season will take place.

"Not being able to play in the fall was very scary but I am hopeful that we will have a season in the spring where we will prove who we are. This is our off-season now and we are focused to get ready for spring no matter what competition we face," Spear said.

This year's team features a mix of both returners and newcomers which will allow the returners on the team a chance to show the new players where the program is set to move forward heading into the second season with head coach Stacy Metro.

"My early thoughts of this new team are that we are capable. This team, I feel, is capable of creating the culture and the team that we want to be. We do have a good mixture of newbies and returners, which is great for us returners to be able to show the newbies what we expect and what is expected of us in this program. We all have a long way to go, individually and as a team, but I feel confident that WOU volleyball is about to take a path that we haven't been on before," Spear said.

Being a senior always comes with extra leadership responsibilities. This comes as nothing new for Spear who leads by example with her hard work on and off the court. Knowing this will be her last season, the strive to excel and succeed will be there throughout every practice and game.

"I do not think that I have more or less of a leadership role as I go into my senior year. I know the person, leader, and player that I want to be and that is what I will strive for. I have a leadership role on this team for sure that I take pride in, but I want to push every player of this team to be leaders and to step into the roles that we need to uphold for this program to be what is expected of it," Spear said.

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