The first thing I asked Lemont senior Amanda Rice about was the joy she feels playing volleyball again.

On Saturday, Rice was in Omaha, Neb., competing in a club tournament.

There was more to her answer, but one part in particular was rather amusing.

“Honestly, even the (refereeing) was enjoyable,” Rice said. “As much as nobody likes to ref, it felt nice to be doing it again.”

Even if she was a bit nervous being a line judge.

“Yeah, it was a bit stressful,” Rice said, laughing. “The game was close and the teams were good. But I think I did pretty well.”

It was the first competitive match Rice has played in more than a year due to various shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It felt so nice, very refreshing,” Rice said. “Having scrimmages at club practices were not the same as having an actual game. Playing different competition from all over the country, too, was amazing. It just felt really good overall.”

It has been a while since Rice and I last talked, something like 60 degrees warmer ago. It was the middle of summer — and the pandemic — and we didn’t know for sure when and how high school girls volleyball would be taking place.

As it turned out, there was no fall season. Now, we know for sure there will be matches in March, but unfortunately there will be no state tournament.

The latter decision by the Illinois High School Association has left Rice with an empty feeling. But she is determined to take advantage of any opportunity she gets to play in matches before heading off to North Carolina State.

She’s also determined to encourage her teammates to feel the same way.

“With no state tournament, the best we can do is have a great attitude about it and go for a conference championship,” Rice said. “I think it’s important for the seniors to treat it as a last high school hurrah.

“I’m looking forward to using this club and high school season to win as many games for the team but also as a way to prepare myself mentally and physically for college.”

Rice has always been a leader on the court for Lemont.

Last season, the 6-foot-1 right-side hitter had to deal with an ankle injury that sidelined her for several matches. She roared back to put up some of the best stats in the Southland.

Rice finished her junior season with 248 kills and worked the net defensively for 40 blocks. She was all-tournament at both Rich East and Glenbard East.

Her best match was in a Class 3A sectional semifinal against Joliet Catholic. Rice had 20 kills on 40 attempts as Lemont gave the state runner-up Angels a run for it before losing 25-11, 21-25, 25-22.

“I just remember feeling like I was unstoppable,” Rice said. “Our attitude was so elevated. I was getting kills, other people were getting kills, we were playing the best we had ever played.

“We did end up losing, but I’m glad that we played a good match.”

It was the last match for Rice as a club and high school teammate with Amy Schwem.

“I’ve done so many lessons and practices with her,” Rice said. “I got to know her so well, and I think we showed on the court and in our games that we had a good chemistry together.

“She just knew me as a player and we complemented each other well. We made a really good combination.”

Schwem is in a gap year before starting her college career at William & Mary. Her days as the heart and soul of Lemont girls volleyball are done.

Now, it’s Rice’s team, according to Indians coach Chris Zogata.

“I definitely believe that she’ll step into that role nicely,” Zogata said. “During the contact days, she was helping other athletes, conveying her positive attitude like she always does.

“Amanda has really grown up. She was very quiet as a freshman playing on the varsity team. During the past four years she has grown more and more as a person and in all of the things that have helped her come into her own.”

You’d better believe she’ll spread the joy.