NASHVILLE - One day you're living out your dream, playing the sport you love professionally. The next, you're racing across a continent trying to make it back home as borders are being closed and flights are being cancelled. 

A number of former Lipscomb athletes playing professionally overseas have seen their seasons shut down or cancelled and had their lives uprooted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke to five former Bisons about how they have been affected. 

1. What team are you playing for, and where is that team located? 

"I am playing for Real Betis a first division team located in Seville, Spain." - Anna Buhigas, Women's Soccer

 "I am playing for a team called globalcaja Quintanar in Quintanar del Rey, Spain. Two-and-a-half hours away from Madrid, Spain." - Khion Sankey, Men's Basketball 

"I am currently contracted to a team named PK-35 Vantaa located right outside Helsinki, Finland. The team competes in the top league in the country." - Olivia Doak, Women's Soccer 

"This year I was playing for CB Tobarra. They are located in Albacete in Spain." - Martin Smith, Men's Basketball 

"I play for the Derby Trailblazers located in Derby, England, about an hour outside of Birmingham." Malcolm Smith, Men's Basketball 

2. If you are back home, when and how did you get back to the United States?

Buhigas - "I was able to come home at the end of March after being in complete lockdown quarantine in Spain for two weeks. I got back by taking a train from Seville to Madrid, and then flew from Madrid to Atlanta on one of the few remaining flights leaving out of Madrid as it was the epicenter of the virus at the time. It was very eerie traveling through the busiest train station and airport in Spain and seeing almost no one. They were only allowing two people per train car and finding a ticket was tricky." 

Sankey - "I am back home in California. I've been home for three weeks now. To avoid flying out of Madrid, Spain I flew out of Valencia, Spain, stayed the night at the London airport hotel, and then flew out the next day to San Francisco." 

Doak - "I was able to come home the day the boarders were closing. I caught the last direct flight from Finland to America. 70% of the flights were cancelled in Helsinki that day, so I was fortunate that my flight was not! I have never experienced the emptiness of a capital city's airport in a European country. I had four different flights in about 18 hours, so the day was stressful and hectic especially when I arrived to New York."

Martin Smith - "I arrived home at the end of March after I took a plane back from Spain."

Malcolm Smith - "I got back home on the 27th of March via commercial flight out of Newcastle. I had a layover in New York before arriving in Nashville."

3. How much notice were you given that you had to leave?

Buhigas - "At first I was not allowed to leave because the Spanish government banned all travel, and the federation was hopeful that we would begin training normally in no time. However, after receiving information from the US embassy encouraging all US citizens to head back, as the national lockdown was going to be extended another two weeks at least, potentially even months, the club revisited the status of the international girls and finally gave the ok to leave. It was about 24 hour after I received the ok that I was beginning my trip back. Most of my teammates were not able to leave because of issues with their visas. I am lucky I have two passports which makes traveling back and forth easier.

Sankey - "They told us that the season was ending in the middle of March. The team told us that we can stay in our houses until the end of March with them paying and if we had to stay longer, we will have to pay rent."

Doak - "I was eight hours ahead of home, so I woke up Thursday morning with about 15 different messages from friends and family with the announcement and details that President Trump made about closing the boarders the next day. By the time I woke up, my family was still asleep so I spent the day attempting to sort the details out with my agent and club. My team did not want me to leave before the league made a decision about the postponement of the season, but I decided that leaving was the best option for me because I lived alone and did not want to be stuck there with no football. So, I had about 10 hours to decide, pack up my whole apartment, and catch a flight to America!"

Martin Smith - "It all happened fast. At first, they said the next two weeks would be cancelled, and about three days later they said the season was over. I was on the plane a week later. It was about two weeks in total." 

Malcolm Smith - "I was given about two weeks notice by the team that if we wanted to come back home that we should make plans to do so within the two weeks."

4. Do you have any idea when you'll be back with the team?

Buhigas - "As of now it looks like the Spanish federation could prematurely conclude the season for the Women's League. We had about seven games remaining. However, nothing official has been announced, and I am not sure when I will be back with the team. I believe the remaining games for the Men's club in La Liga will be played in July."  

Sankey - "Right now, the season is cancelled. So I am going through a process of exploring my options for what team I will be playing for next season."

Doak - "I have no idea when the season will start because it keeps getting postponed. But more so, I do not know when I will be able to travel from America to Europe. The situation is fairly under control and much better in Finland compared to other European countries like Italy and Spain." 

Martin Smith - "It was a one-year deal with that team so I'm not sure if I will be on that specific team going forward." 

Malcolm Smith - "Our season has been cancelled, but last year I signed a two-year deal with this team, so from the communications I have had with them so far the plan is to return by late august to prepare for the season."

5. What are you doing to stay in game shape right now? 

Buhigas - "I am actually in the best shape I have been in years. I have focused on nutrition during the quarantine. I am still able to workout with my personal trainer and get touches on the ball everyday in my backyard. I actually think I am doing more now than I was during the season because I am so bored!" 

"Our team sports psychologist sends us workshops to do each week, and stays in constant communication with each player every day. I believe the lockdown rules in Spain are more strict than any other country in the world. All the athletes are trying to not only maintain their physical l health but mental health as well during this tough time."

Sankey - "Right now, I'm just doing double days. In the morning, I do a jump rope workout or ride the bike for cardio. Then in the afternoon, I go workout outside with my trainer @1a.fitness, but we follow the rules of social distancing."

Doak - "I just came out of preseason, so I was in the grind of working out two-to-three times a day there. I am working out usually twice a day and trying to mix up my workouts. My family has a farm and there are many trails by my house, so I have loved being outside and enjoying longer runs. I also still have field access and a home gym, so I have to get more creative because I am doing it without my team and trainer! But also doing plyometrics and other exercises that involve jumping and keeping me sharp and explosive." 

Martin Smith - "I've been using the weights and treadmill I have at home."

Malcolm Smith - "The only thing that I've been doing lately is a lot of cardio and using the few weights I do have at home. I've been able to shoot around to a certain extent as well because we have a basketball goal here from back in the day that's still good, but besides that it's hard to get much done really."