Confidence carries volleyball team to their first three wins
Confidence is key to victory and possibly a perfect season for this year’s volleyball team. As Kynsi Stout, member of last year’s volleyball team, watches the girls practice, she said she notices the determination that fills the room. “Just watching that, it’s entertaining and inspirational.” With four returning sophomores and seven freshmen, the team may be considered “young” to fellow NWAACC members but their passion is anything but juvenile. The maturity and drive of the members have helped them bond. “Being a two-year school, there’s not a lot of [a] seniority feel,” said Stout. “I think they take that and they treat the freshmen the same way they were treated last year, which was great.” Coming from a season where the team landed in the semi-finals last year, Coach Lena Chan has high hopes for this year. She took the opportunity to test her team’s skills at a Las Vegas Tournament in the beginning of September. “The level is different because it’s unpredictable because you can’t watch the teams on tape, you don’t have their strategies or tendencies,” said Stout. “The reason we go to a far away tournament is to play different teams so we don’t get tired of playing the same teams.” Playing against nationally ranked teams, they lost to the 6th-ranked team by two points in their third game but beat the 16th-ranked team. They played six matches and took some time out to visit the M&M factory. “I think the whole team together probably bought 50 pounds of M&Ms” Stoud said. For now, the team is preparing for their game against Clackamas Sept. 29 in the MHCC gym. The team has already won against Clark College scoring 30-17, 30-19, and 30-13, Chemeketa winning 3-0 and defeating Linn-Benton at 3-1. As confidence delivers the beginning of a great season, the players keep the goal of taking Southern Region and NWAACC in the back of their heads as they plow down the competition.
|
