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Photo by Brett Stanley/The Advocate
MHCC freshman middle blocker Audrianna Patterson goes up for a spike during the Saints preseason win against the Clark Community College Penguins in three straight sets (25-16, 25-8 , 25-17).
Women struggle in Bellevue Crossover
The Advocate
Head Volleyball Coach Chelsie Freeman said she is prepared for the ups and downs that may come in her first season, but could not believe the play of her team during last weekend’s Bellevue Crossover Tournament in Bellevue, Wash.
“We just looked sloppy and I couldn’t believe our play. It was really bad,” she said.
In round robin play, the girls first squared off against the Treasure Valley Chukars, winning in two sets (25-15, 25-20).
According to Freeman, the girls came out sloppy and looked like they just got off the van.
“We honestly looked like we were never there. We just got off the van and I don’t know how we pulled out the victory,” said Freeman.
The Lady Saints then faced off against Bellevue, losing in two sets (25-15, 25-23). The women started slow and never really got into a rhythm.
“We just really never got a rally of points together and our effort was just not there. We let balls drop right next our feet,” said Freeman.
Wrapping up the round robin play, the women took on Shoreline CC and won in three sets (24-26, 25-21, 15-11).
“I was excited but after that game we just folded,” said Freeman.
The next day, the women opened first-round play against the Highline Thunderbirds, losing in three sets, and then lost again to Bellevue in two sets and were ousted from the tournament.
“It is one thing to lose when you give effort, but when you lose because of a lack of effort, it gets really frustrating as a coach,” Freeman said.
The team left the tournament with an overall record of 2-3. But Freeman said the women learned something important from the poor showing.
“The girls learned that even though they are good, they have to show up and play,” said Freeman. “It taught them what it’s like to be embarrassed and hopefully they will step it up this weekend.”
The Saints take on the Umpqua RiverHawks tonight at 7 at home, followed by Southwestern Oregon Community College Lakers Saturday at home at 1 p.m.
“Umpqua has never been really that strong,” sad Freeman. “But you can never take anybody too lightly. I usually like to think teams are better than they are to get my girls ready. But SWOCC can’t be taken lightly. They are a really scrappy team that can’t be underestimated.”
As for her preparation, Freeman has taken bad parts from the tournament and incorporated it into practice for the upcoming weekend.
“We don’t really pick up balls,” she said. “We hesitate too much and so we have a lot of balls that are not dug out. Another part is our blocking. We don’t block very many balls and that needs to be improved.”
After a poor performance in the Bellevue Crossover, Freeman still believes in her team.
“The reason I am so competitive is that my girls want to win NWAACCs and I want to also. It is about tradition and that’s what we are here to do, win NWAACCs.”
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