After 4,000 miles of travel and approximately ten hours in the air, the Rollins Volleyball Team touched down in Fairbanks, Alaska for the Ice Block Classic.
“When I found out we were going to Alaska, I literally screamed,” outside hitter Kyla Krimmel (‘29) said. “I was in the car with my mom, and I was in disbelief, especially being a freshman and getting to travel that far.”
The Tars went 2-2 with wins over the University of Alaska Anchorage and Rockhurst University, while falling short to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and California State San Bernardino. Middle blocker Makayla Moran (‘26) made the Ice Block Classic All-Tournament Team.
“My favorite memory was seeing Makayla earn her award. It was fun to cheer her on and see all of her hard work get recognized,” Krimmel said. “Also, our overall record is 11-6, and our coach said it’s been the best start for volleyball since 2015.”
While the schedule was demanding, the team had time to soak up their surroundings and enjoy Alaska’s scenery.
“The first day we had two games and the other two days we only had one game, so we got to do a lot of exploring,” Krimmel said. “We hiked Denali, which was about three hours, and also went to a hot spring, which was super relaxing.”
The trip offered more than just volleyball and sightseeing; it deepened the team’s bond.
“The trip definitely brought us closer together. We had a red-eye, so traveling for that long and that late at night allowed us to see each other at all times of the day, and that level of vulnerability really brought us closer,” said Krimmel.
The Tars have been on the road for the past three weeks, with consecutive travel and matches making it tougher to balance school and volleyball.
“Being on top of schoolwork has been hard just with playing so many games. We don’t have that much downtime,” Krimmel said. “Time management has been a big factor but just talking with my friends and teammates to see how they’re balancing it has been super helpful.”
Although balancing academics and athletics hasn’t been easy, Krimmel doesn’t take the opportunities for granted.
“With traveling overall, we’re so lucky to be able to go and see other schools and meet new people,” Krimmel said. “It’s been super fun, and I’m just really grateful.”
Looking ahead, the Tars are currently in conference play and will face off against Florida Southern College on Oct. 10 and the University of Tampa on Oct. 11.
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