The Cosumnes River College volleyball team fell short against the Modesto Junior College Pirates on Sept. 30, winning the first set 25-23 but losing the following three sets 22-25, 23-25 and 13-25.
The game was the sixth iteration of CRC’s “Spike and a Slice” fan appreciation night. Attendees enjoyed pizza and drinks and won free shirts while watching the game.
The Hawks were able to give the Pirates a challenge despite some injuries in earlier games in the season. They would kick off the first set with a serve by sophomore Nikita Schenck that resulted in a fault by Modesto.
For the rest of the set, the Hawks played with a good balance of offense and defense and kept a strong advantage. Despite a comeback by Modesto, the set concluded with a 25-23 win by the Hawks.
“I thought in set one we did well and then after that we had spurts of playing well but we never seemed to put it together,” Hawks volleyball head coach Minet Gunther said.
Modesto managed a significant point advantage early in the second set until the Hawks attempted a near successful comeback towards the end. A clean kill by Modesto concluded the set 25-22.
Modesto also took the third set with similar results. Modesto’s defensive efforts forced several faults by the Hawks and the Pirates won the set 25-23.
Gunther expressed how her team focused too much on one strategy over another instead of having a balance of the two during the second and third sets.
“We would either pass well or we would hit well but we never had it together to win except for sporadic plays,” Gunther said.
The fourth and final set ended in favor of Modesto by another large point advantage.
After 20 rallies, the Pirates were ahead of the Hawks 16-4.
The height advantage of the Pirates’ outside freshman Jamie Beck stressed the Hawks defenses and become a central aspect of Modesto’s main strategy. The Pirates won the set 25-13.
“I tried to do my best against the Hawks after we got ourselves pumped up as we were down a little bit,” Beck said.
After the match, Gunther elaborated on what tactics the Hawks should improve when playing against the Pirates again.
“I hope we can work on the placement of our blocking especially against Beck,” Gunther said. “I also hope to just improve on our overall defense against her.”
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