Just a small handful of states have heard that first whistle from the referee signifying the beginning of volleyball season. California, Georgia, Hawaii, and Texas each have teams who have started competing this week with several more on deck for the weekend and early next week.

While we can focus on the wins and losses and the beginning days of building a successful season (and we will), this week we are reminded of the compassion, empathy, and sense of community we can feel through sports.

In the wake of the devastation that took place last Saturday in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, families everywhere were asked to continue their lives – including playing volleyball. One Texas school’s volleyball team, El Paso Franklin HS, suited up on Thursday to compete in the Mansfield ISD Invitational. EP Franklin is about 16 miles from where the Walmart shooting took place that claimed 22 lives.