Ontario's Lady Tigers volleyball team after practice during the last week in February. (Jessica Rodriguez/submitted photo)
VALE – As what would normally be the fall sporting season gets off to a late start this week, perhaps the biggest surprise is the return of volleyball – an indoor contact sport that was formally banned under state Covid metrics.
Local teams, however, had already secured exceptions to the rule to allow play before the recent change in Malheur County’s risk ranking from extreme to moderate.
Shannon Steele, Vale High School volleyball coach, said that the Lady Vikings were practicing in shifts to comply with Covid restrictions during the four days between the start of the season and Malheur County’s shift in Covid risk status.
“(Friday) was our first practice,” she said. “I think the . . .
