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UTEP volleyball: Latvian freshman who couldn't go home during COVID-19 eager to play

Irba Lazda, the C-USA freshman of the week El Paso Times

The UTEP volleyball team's long process of getting back on the court took a big step forward Monday with their return to conditioning work, and for Irbe Lazda, the three month break seemed endless.

While her teammates headed home, the Latvian, the only international player on the roster, couldn't do the same. Lazda stayed in the mostly empty UTEP dorms, she visited teammate Syenna Masaki in Hawaii, she counted down days to Monday.

"I'm definitely excited to be back, especially in the morning when we lifted," Lazda said.