But they played

Updated to include link to even more photos at the bottom.

Chairs set in a pattern that looked like a barrier into the gym. No one was sure if they could enter without permission. They weren't.
However, those were for the reserve players, positioned in the doorway so they could still watch their teammates play and be ready if called upon.

They were not allowed in the gym to keep the numbers under 25 and stay within the COVID-19 restrictions. 

There were three chairs set for rotating players on the Union side, four for Cranberry. The two teams, two scorers and two officials and the gym was at capacity.

They played.

At the end of set one. Union won 26-24 after nearly blowing a 24-18 lead. The Only claps came from the players and masked Cranberry principal Ritt Smith standing by the door. 

But they played. 

As the second set started the teams didn’t swap sides as usual to avoid having to wipe down chairs and the like. Coaches wore masks the whole time. The whistle in mouth officials took their masks off during the match. No players on the court wore masks. The score keepers at the desk separated by a chair wore masks. 
The live streamers from three unmanned positions were controlled in a corner of the gym up in the balcony and far away from everyone else. 

And the end of second set Cranberry looked a bit more dominant winning 25-16. “Nice job” Ritt Smith’s voice was impossible to miss. It was the only one. 

But they played. 

The athletic trainer sat in the hall. 
She said one of the officials joked with her that if someone got hurt he’d swap positions with her. 
Between points was eerily quiet. 
The third set started as the second ended. The berries seemed to find their stride and jumped into a healthy lead. 
Union seemed rattled, discombobulated and confused. “We’ve seen this before,” a frustrated Union coach yelled. 
This seemed to jumpstart a short lived rally to make it close for about a minute before Cranberry hunkered down to take care of the third set. 25-15. 
Again ”good job!” from Smith was yelled, though not as exuberant this time given the dominating third set that seemed never in question. It was still clearly heard in the empty gym. 

But they played. 

When the players came back onto the court, the reserve players donned their masks to sit and watch. 
Union came out and stood toe to toe counter punching the berries and landing a few well placed shots while mounting a little lead. 
When Cranberry caught their first break they gripped the reins a little tighter and began the comeback. But Union also seemed to be finding their stride and the two teams were in a tight battle. 
A key Cranberry time-out slowed Union down, but a confused situation whether a ball was touch before landing out of bounds led to a replay of a point that should’ve been Cranberries. That seemed to derail the berries  and Union went way ahead in the must win fourth set eventually winning it 25-16. 

A bit of excitment could be heard but it was only from the nine Union players and coach in the gym.

But they played.

In the shortened tie breaker set the berries looked like they did in the second set. Better passes and mixing power with finesse. They jumped to an 8-4 lead. Union got the serve and put together a run to tie and then go ahead. 
The teams then traded blows as they inched toward 15. 

Cranberry inched to 14-12 and union called a timeout. To no avail. Cranberry won 15-12 and the match 3-2. 

Smith’s lone clap was heard as the Berries left the court. 

But they played. 

View more photos from Tuesday's action at ​sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p781860598